Business: Credit

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to introduce credit easing for small businesses.

Mark Hoban: HM Treasury is currently considering a range of options for credit easing as announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the right hon. Member for Tatton (Mr Osborne), on 3 October 2011. The Chancellor of the Exchequer will provide more details regarding credit easing at the autumn statement on 29 November.

Devolution

Guto Bebb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what Barnett consequentials were paid to the devolved administrations as a result of the decision to freeze council tax in April 2011; and how much will be paid in such consequentials in April 2012.

Danny Alexander: The 2010 spending review settlement for local government included £0.7 billion to enable English local authorities to freeze their council tax in 2011-12. The devolved Administrations received Barnett consequentials of the change to the local government settlement.
	The Chancellor of the Exchequer, the right hon. Member for Tatton (Mr Osborne), announced support for local authorities (LAs) in England who wish to freeze their council tax in 2012-13 at his conference speech. There will be a one off payment to those LAs in 2011-12 who agree to freeze their council tax in 2012-13. The total cost of this is estimated to be £805 million
	Within this the devolved Administrations will receive Barnett consequentials of £67.5 million for Scotland; £38.9 million for Wales and £22.6 million for Northern Ireland.

Local Government: Pensions

David Anderson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will instruct his Department not to play a role in negotiations on changes to the Local Government Pension Scheme. [R]

Danny Alexander: HM Treasury has overall responsibility for public service pension policy and public expenditure.
	The Secretary of State for the Department for Communities and Local Government has responsibility for the rules of the Local Government Pension scheme.
	On 20 July the Secretary of State invited discussions between the Local Government Group and local government trade unions with a view to establishing a package of measures to secure short term savings. The Government began consultation on 7 September on consequent proposals. The Government will consult on wider reforms based on recommendations of the Independent Public Service Pensions Commission, in due course.

Money: Counterfeit Manufacturing

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he plans to take to reduce the number of counterfeit coins in circulation.

Chloe Smith: The Royal Mint and the Treasury are working with banks, the Post Office, cash handling and sorting businesses, the police and the vending industry to remove counterfeit £1 coins from circulation before they reach the pockets of members of the public. Coin handling businesses, such as banks and the Post Office, handle over 3 billion £1 coins every year. They use high-speed, automated systems to process customer deposits and prepare coin for reissue. These automated systems are capable of detecting and withdrawing a significant number of counterfeit coins. All counterfeit coins detected from coin processing are sent to the Royal Mint for disposal.
	The Royal Mint holds briefing to educate the public and the coin handling industry on how to identify counterfeits, and has issued educational leaflets and posters.
	The Royal Mint is also working with other validator and coin sorting manufacturers to help improve the counterfeit detection rate.

Public Expenditure

Iain Wright: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will increase departmental capital expenditure limits for the purposes of increasing job creation, economic productivity and potential economic growth.

Danny Alexander: As a result of the spending review, capital spending will be £2.3biliion higher than planned under the March 2010 budget.
	To make sure these plans are fulfilled, I am working closely with cabinet colleagues to ensure that spending is not stockpiled and that capital budgets are delivered on time. This has already released £500 million for the Growing Places initiative.

Carbon Dioxide: Feed-in Tariffs

Glyn Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the range of emission abatement costs in pounds per tonne of carbon dioxide under the feed-in tariff scheme for wind power.

Gregory Barker: The cost per tonne of CO2 of wind power supported under the Feed-in Tariffs (FITs) scheme is estimated to be around £270 (real discounted 2008 prices).
	This estimate is based oh the FITs model for the 2010 final impact assessment, updated for energy demand and fossil fuel prices in March 2011. These estimates will be updated for the FITs comprehensive review.

Climate Change

Lindsay Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps the Government is taking to ensure that the UK meets its emissions targets under the Climate Change Act 2008.

Gregory Barker: holding answer 17 October 2011
	The Prime Minister pledged to make this the greenest Government ever and announced earlier this year that carbon emissions from Government HQs and offices have been cut by nearly 14% in just one year. Following this, he committed the Government to go further by reducing emissions by 25% by 2015. We are also supporting greater energy efficiency across the economy by introducing the Green Deal, revolutionising the way heat is generated and used through the Renewable Heat Incentive, and rolling-out smart meters and a smart grid will build on this progress. Moreover, on 12 July 2011 the Government published 'Planning our electric future: a White Paper for secure, affordable and low-carbon electricity'. The White Paper sets out key reforms to the electricity market to attract investment, reduce the impact on consumer bills, and create a secure mix of low-carbon electricity sources including renewables, new nuclear and carbon capture and storage.
	Emissions projections, published on 13 October 2011, show that the UK is on track, on central forecasts, to meet our first three carbon budgets and our 2020 target to reduce emissions by at least 34% against the 1990 baseline. Emissions have already been reduced by over 26%, taking into account the effects of emissions trading.
	We have also set in legislation the level of the fourth carbon budget for the period 2023-27 which equates to more than a 50% reduction in emissions. This autumn Government will be publishing a comprehensive strategy which will set out how the fourth carbon budget might be met, pathways to our 2050 target as well as a set of milestones which will set out shorter-term actions the Government commits to undertake to keep us on track to delivering our ambitious climate change goals.

Combined Heat and Power

Martin Caton: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the contribution of the Minister of State to the Public Bill Committee on the Energy Bill [Lords] of 21 June 2011, Written Evidence, columns 444-6, what steps he plans to take to progress passive flue gas and micro combined heat and power technologies; and if he will make a statement.

Gregory Barker: Following the discussion of these technologies at Committee Stage of the Energy Bill, the department has progressed the agenda in line with the commitment given at the end of that debate. My officials met the hon. Member for Southampton Test (Dr Whitehead), shortly afterwards and have also held talks with industry bodies.
	In August the Micropower Council organised an event on micro-CHP involving senior DECC officials and the leading players from across the industry, and as a result of that meeting, the industry will shortly be presenting Government with proposals for progressing this technology. Micro-CHP already receives support from the feed-in tariff.
	Passive flue gas heat recovery systems are included as an eligible technology under the green deal. The secondary legislation implementing that policy is now being drawn up.

Departmental Contracts

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what contracts of a monetary value of (a) between £100,000 and £500,000, (b) between £500,000 and £1 million, (c) between £1 million and £5 million, (d) between £5 million and £10 million, (e) between £10 million and £50 million, (f) between £50 million and £100 million, (g) between £100 million and £500 million, (h) between £500 million and £1 billion, (i) between £1 billion and £5 billion and (j) over £5 billion his Department has entered into with private suppliers in each year since its inception.

Gregory Barker: Details of contracts entered into are set out by value and by financial year in the following lists. The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) was established in October 2008. Information for 2008-09 could be provided only at disproportionate cost from the procurement records of the Departments from which DECC was established (i.e. the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and the Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs).
	2009-10
	£100,000 to £500,000
	Financial support lead for carbon capture and storage (CCS) demonstration 1
	CCS project management support
	CCS demonstration project commercial support manager
	Provision of technical lead for CCS demonstration 1 competition internal team
	CCS demonstration provision of geological advice
	£500,000 to £1,000,000
	None
	£1,000,000 to £5,000,000
	Measurement and interpretation of atmospheric gases
	Information computer technology
	Oil and gas maximising recovery programme—three projects
	CCS demonstration 1 project technical support
	Financial advice for CCS demonstration 1
	Legal advice for CCS demonstration 1 competition
	£5,000,000 to £10,000,000
	Expert support on CC&S delivery of demos 2-4
	£10,000 ,000  to £50,000 ,000
	Legal support, advice and claims handling in respect of claims for liabilities resulting from the former British Coal Corporation
	£50,000 ,000  to £100,000 ,000
	Provision of front end engineering and design (FEED) studies for demonstration 1 competition (1)
	Provision of FEED studies for demonstration 1 competition (2)
	Over £100,000,000
	None
	2010-11
	£100,000 to £500,000
	Assessment of options to improve GB gas security of supply
	Avoiding dangerous climate change (AVOID) programme
	Bioenergy grants management
	Demand side response (DSR) and smart grid cost/benefit analysis
	Electricity market reform—instrument design
	Electricity market reform—legal advice
	Electronic radar tool to support micro/small wind
	Expert support on assessing carbon capture and storage and innovative renewable new entrants reserve (NER) applications
	Financial support levels for renewables electricity in the UK
	Geological advice for the carbon capture and storage demonstration
	Renewables obligation banding review 2010-13—modelling the impact of different support scenarios
	Technical support on assessing carbon capture and storage new entrants reserve applications
	UK green house gas inventory improvement programme
	£500,000 to £1,000,000
	UK national contact point service for framework programme 7 and intelligent energy Europe 2 programmes
	£1,000,000 to £5,000,000
	Smart metering programme
	£5,000,000 to £10,000,000
	None
	£10,000,000 to £50,000,000
	None
	£50,000,000 to £100,000 ,000
	None
	Over £100,000,000
	None
	2011-12
	£100,000 to £500,000
	Share point team sites development and implementation
	£500,000 to £1,000,000
	None
	£1,000,000 to £5,000,000
	None
	£5,000,000 to  £10,000,000
	None
	£10,000,000 to £50,000,000
	None
	£50,000,000 to £100,000,000
	None
	Over £100,000,000
	None

Departmental Official Hospitality

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much his Department spent on hospitality for events hosted by each Minister in his Department in each of the last 12 months.

Gregory Barker: Hospitality expenditure incurred by the Department of Energy and Climate Change and attributable to its Ministers was £5,000 in the 12 months period ending September 2011 as summarised in the following table.
	Hospitality represents expenditure on food and drink provided at meetings and events for the benefit of guests outside of the Department. All expenditure was incurred in accordance with the Department's policy on hospitality which requires that:
	all expenditure must be fully and properly authorised and accounted for;
	there must be a clear and justifiable reason for expenditure on hospitality i.e. where there is direct Government interest in promoting the Department);
	the nature of the hospitality should not be excessive to the purpose for which it is given;
	the number of members of the Department present should be reasonable in relation to the nature of the occasion; and
	personal benefit to the participating staff must be incidental and, where relevant, abated by adjustment of any claims for subsistence.
	
		
			 October 2010 - September 2011 £ 
			 October 358 
			 November 981 
			 December 1,670 
			 January 603 
			 February 93 
			 March 432 
			 April — 
			 May — 
			 June 266 
			 July -90 
			 August 335 
			 September 443 
			 12 months Total 5,091

Electric Cables: Design

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much his Department has spent on the competition to design new electricity pylons; and for what purposes.

Charles Hendry: The Department has spent £45,000 on the competition to design new electricity pylons. This includes RIBA competition management fees, a prize fund of £10,000 (shared between the winners and the shortlist) and design, installations production and management costs around the V&A exhibition, which formed part of this year's London Design Festival. The competition has been highly successful in generating interest and debate within the design industry and the wider public:
	www.ribapylondesign.com
	in the visual acceptability of future energy infrastructure.

Mixed Oxide Fuel: Sellafield

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what targets the Mox plant at Sellafield was set for the production of mixed-oxide fuel (m-ox) in each year of its operation; and how many tonnes of Mox were produced in each year.

Charles Hendry: The original target was for the Sellafield MOX Plant (SMP) to produce 120 tonnes of Heavy Metal (tHM) of mixed oxide fuel a year. This was revised in 2000-01 to 72 tHM per annum. The annual throughput target was later downgraded again, first to 38 tHM to 40 tHM in 2003 and then to 8 tHM to 15 tHM in 2008. The actual production rates of completed assemblies (in tHM) for SMP year by year are as follows:
	
		
			  tHM 
			 2002-03 0.0 
			 2003-04 0.0 
			 2004-05 0.3 
			 2005-06 2.3 
			 2006-07 2.6 
			 2007-08 0.0 
			 2008-09 1.1 
			 2009-10 4.8 
			 2010-11 2.7

Nuclear Installations

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change with reference to the report by HM Chief Inspector of Nuclear Installations, September 2011, paragraph 475, when he expects to receive the final report of the Sellafield Ltd review of cooling, ventilation, inerting and containment systems and the availability and reliability of these systems under accident conditions.

Charles Hendry: Monitoring of the systems at Sellafield, and the activities of Sellafield Ltd, is carried out by the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR). Sellafield Ltd is committed to produce stress test reports relating to the Calder Hall Reactors and the final report on these will be submitted to ONR by 31 October 2011; in line with European requirements. A final report covering the other nuclear facilities on the Sellafield site will be submitted to the ONR by the end of December 2011. Together these reports constitute the Sellafield Ltd review, referred to in the chief inspector's report. The chief inspector will keep DECC up to date with progress.

Third Sector: Correspondence

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many letters he has received on funding for civil society organisations within his Department's area of responsibility in each month since 1 June 2010; and if he will make a statement.

Gregory Barker: The Department received one request under the Freedom Of Information Act regarding funding for civil sector organisations in August 2010, one in November 2010, and three in February 2011.
	In addition the Department received two non-FOI queries regarding funding for civil sector organisations in December 2010, one in January 2011, and two in February 2011.
	The Department has not received any requests under the Freedom Of Information Act regarding funding for civil sector organisations since April 2011.
	The Department received one non-FOI query regarding funding for civil sector organisations in April 2011, one in June 2011, one in August 2011, one in September 2011 and one so far in October 2011.
	Queries regarding grants to civil society organisations under the Low Carbon Communities Challenge and Low Carbon Buildings Programme are excluded as to identify them would incur disproportionate costs.

Animal Rights Act 1986

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when a decision will be reached on the inclusion of legislation from the Animal Rights Act 1986 into the framework of European Directive 2010/63/EU.

Lynne Featherstone: European Directive 2010/63/EU must be transposed into UK legislation by 10 November 2012 and must be implemented from 1 January 2013.
	The public consultation on options for transposition of the directive closed on 5 September 2011. Decisions on options will be taken after responses have been carefully considered.

Asylum

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many legacy asylum cases had not been resolved on the most recent date for which figures are available.

Damian Green: The agency completed its review of all cases in the legacy cohort at the end of March 2011. A total of 500,500 cases were reviewed as part of the programme and the majority (455,000) have been fully concluded.
	The UK Border Agency established the Case Assurance and Audit Unit (CAAU) to actively manage those 23,000 cases which had been reviewed but had barriers to conclusion. All these cases have been decided and communicated to the applicants.
	The CAAU has now fully concluded 1,500 of those cases. They have also issued around 3,000 grants which are subject to information from the applicant in order to complete a final security check.
	The UK Border Agency is actively managing around 18,000 cases which have been considered to the furthest possible point but barriers to their removal remain.
	These barriers include ongoing litigation, impending prosecution, incomplete legal or criminal proceedings, non-compliance or because they are from difficult to remove countries. These cases are being actively considered and will be concluded when those barriers have been lifted.
	Note:
	All figures rounded to the nearest 500.

Debt Collection

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will issue guidance to police forces and police authorities on the application of the provisions of the Fraud Act 2006 to (a) bailiff operations and (b) local authority officials who employ private bailiff companies.

James Brokenshire: I have no plans to issue guidance to police forces and police authorities on the applications of the provisions of the Fraud Act 2006 to (a) bailiff operations and (b) local authority officials who employ private bailiff companies.
	Decisions on whether and how to investigate a crime rest solely with the police. Such operational issues are the ultimate responsibility of the chief officer of the force concerned.

Immigration

Louise Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many legacy cases were awaiting a decision in the latest period for which figures are available.

Damian Green: The agency completed its review of all cases in the legacy cohort at the end of March 2011. A total of 500,500 cases were reviewed as part of the programme and the majority (455,000) have been fully concluded.
	The UK Border Agency established the Case Assurance and Audit Unit (CAAU) to actively manage those 23,000 cases which had been reviewed but had barriers to conclusion. All these cases have been decided and communicated to the applicants.
	The CAAU has now fully concluded 1,500 of those cases. They have also issued around 3,000 grants which are subject to information from the applicant in order to complete a final security check.
	The UK Border Agency is actively managing around 18,000 cases which have been considered to the furthest possible point but barriers to their removal remain.
	These barriers include ongoing litigation, impending prosecution, incomplete legal or criminal proceedings, non-compliance or because they are from difficult to remove countries. These cases are being actively considered and will be concluded when those barriers have been lifted.
	Note:
	All figures rounded to the nearest 500.

Overseas Workers

Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations she has received from business organisations regarding the immigration cap since 1 June 2011.

Damian Green: Business organisations were consulted fully on the development of the Government's plans for limits on migration under tiers 1 and 2 of the Points Based System, which were implemented in April 2011, as well as being involved in the more recent consultation on settlement and tier 5. The UK Border Agency maintains an active dialogue with business organisations on issues arising from the implementation of limits on migration and other issues through, for example, its Employer Taskforce, on which business organisations, including the Confederation of British Industry, the British Hospitality Association and the Recruitment and wake Employment Confederation, are represented.

Asylum: English Language

Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will assess the effects of reductions in ESOL funding for asylum seekers on their prospects for employment and integration into society.

John Hayes: I have been asked to reply.
	The eligibility for asylum seekers to access funding for skills training are described in paragraphs 32 and 33 of the Skills Funding Agency 2011/12 Learner Eligibility and Contribution Rules (Version 2.1, August 2011). This can be found at:
	http://readingroom.lsc.gov.uk/SFA/LearnerEligibilityand ContributionRules_2011_12_12Aug2011__June_revision_V2.1.pdf
	From the 2011-12 academic year, where English language skills have been identified as a barrier to entering employment, full Government funding is provided for English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) qualifications delivered to unemployed people in receipt of Jobseekers' Allowance or in the Employment and Support Allowance (Work-Related Activity) Group. Further education colleges and training organisations also have local discretion to provide fully subsidised courses for people on a wider range of benefits where the training is to help them enter employment. Learners are expected to share the costs of publicly funded ESOL courses with Government where full fee remission is not applicable. The Government will no longer fund ESOL courses delivered in the workplace. This is to ensure publicly-funded training provision is focused on people whose lack of English is preventing them from finding work.
	This Department and the Department for Communities and Local Government are working in partnership to develop new forms of support for individuals who need language skills to assist with integration and community cohesion. I will announce further details in due course.
	The potential impact on adult learners participating in ESOL courses of the changes to eligibility criteria for fee remission set out in the Government's 'Skills for Sustainable Growth' strategy (November 2010) are described in an equality impact assessment, published by this Department on 18 July 2011. This can be found at:
	http://www.bis.gov.uk/assets/biscore/further-education-skills/docs/e/11-1045-english-for-speakers-of-other-languages-equality-impact.pdf

Departmental Buildings

Eilidh Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what (a) building and (b) refurbishment projects her Department plans in (i) the current and (ii) the next financial year; and what the cost will be of each such project.

David Jones: The Wales Office has a plan of proposed work, developed in line with the most recent independent building survey, that aims to bring Gwydyr House, a grade II* listed building, up to a standard that complies with the relevant legislation and health and safety regulations.
	Each project is separately evaluated at the appropriate time to ensure value for money. Thus, the plans listed as follows are not yet firmly costed and it is possible that not all will proceed within the timescale envisaged. Current planned projects for the financial years requested are listed in the following tables.
	
		
			 (i) Current financial year 
			 Project Rationale 
			 Replacement of carpet tiles and painting of corridors and two rooms Safety risk—tiling is old, worn with many displaced and presenting a trip hazard. Painting work to make good damage caused by past re-cabling work 
			 Replace door leading onto staircase Safety reasons—require door that is fireproofed to a higher standard 
		
	
	
		
			 (ii) 2012-13 financial year 
			 Project Rationale 
			 Update of lift to become a 'fire lift' Safety reasons—currently lift cannot be used in an evacuation; upgrade to a fire lift will enable its use in an emergency and increase evacuation routes from the building

Public Sector

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office 
	(1)  what steps his Department has taken to encourage the development of public service mutuals in its area of responsibility; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what steps he is taking to put in place a right to provide for public sector workers to take over the running of services; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Hurd: The Cabinet Office is taking forward the Government's commitments to give public sector workers new rights to spin out to form new enterprises and continue to deliver public services, including through new mutuals and cooperatives. These rights will not be uniform across organisations,
	The transformation of My Civil Service Pension is currently under way. On 5 July 2011 we created the company and we are currently in the process of identifying a private sector partner for My Civil Service Pension. As this process is under way at the moment it would be inappropriate to make any further statement at this time.
	The Mutuals Support Programme is a fund of more than £10 million, administered by the Cabinet Office. It will be dedicated to supporting some of the most promising and innovative mutuals so that they reach the point of investment readiness. This will be supported by the Mutuals Information Service that will give help and guidance to potential and existing mutuals. These will be launched later in the autumn.

Constituencies

Nick Brown: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the cumulative impact of five-yearly #boundaries redistributions on individual voter registration in different parts of the country.

Mark Harper: I am not aware of any evidence that the frequency of constituency redistributions has any impact on the means or outcomes of various systems of electoral registration. However, changes in the register arising from the movement of people over time do increase inequalities in the weight of a vote between constituencies. Holding reviews more frequently will reduce inequalities arising as a result of population movement, and will help ensure votes have more equal weight than at present.

Electoral Register

Chris Ruane: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the timetable is for proposed changes to electoral registration in respect of the (a) 2015 general election and (b) boundary review.

Mark Harper: The White Paper published on 30 June 2011 outlined the Government plans to implement Individual Electoral Registration.
	The first Individual Electoral Registration canvass will take place in 2014, which will include a personal invite to electors on the register to apply under the new system, a household canvass of those properties where no one is registered or where there is evidence that an elector has moved, along with reminders and door-to-door canvassing for those who do not return their forms. Most existing electors on the register who do not register under the new system in 2014 will be carried forward for one year enabling them to vote in the 2015 general election.
	After the general election there will be a further annual canvass, which will target any 'carried forward' electors and reminders and doorstep canvassing for those who have not returned their forms. Only after the conclusion of these canvasses will those individuals who have not registered under the new system be removed from the electoral register.
	The boundary review which is due to report in October 2018 will be conducted by reference to the electoral register due to be published by 1 December 2015.

Health Inequalities

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to reduce health inequalities; and if he will make a statement.

Anne Milton: The Health and Social Care Bill proposes the first ever legal duty on the Secretary of State for Health, my right hon. Friend the Member for South Cambridgeshire (Mr Lansley), to have regard to the need to reduce health inequalities, covering national health service and public health functions. We are also addressing the health needs of the most vulnerable people through the Inclusion Health programme.

Cystic Fibrosis: Health Services

Debbie Abrahams: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the effect of NHS efficiency savings on services for people with cystic fibrosis.

Paul Burstow: The national health service has been asked to make efficiency savings with the purpose of redirecting the money back into meeting the additional demands for frontline care the NHS will face. We are clear that this does not mean reducing quality of care or the outcomes the NHS achieves; but doing things better including working together more closely with social care.
	One of the potential areas identified for the NHS to achieve this is for patients with long term conditions. A national workstream has been set up to support them to achieve this, and is centred on a generic model of care based on key principles of risk-profiling, neighbourhood care teams and self care/shared decision making. Teams based within local health economies participating in this workstream are applying these principles in line with local need.
	By embedding these key principles in local health economies across the country this workstream aims to support the NHS to significantly reduce the number of unscheduled admissions and length of stay for people with LTCs. This will represent improved care and generate efficiency savings.

General Practitioners: Kent

Gareth Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many GPs there were per head of the population in each primary care trust serving (a) Kent and (b) Dartford constituency in each of the last five years.

Simon Burns: The information is shown in the following table.
	
		
			 General practitioners (GPs) per head of population by selected organisations as at 2006-10 
			  GP headcount per 100,000 population 
			  2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 
			 Medway primary care trust (PCT) 52.9 51.6 53.7 65.2 64.7 
			 Eastern and Coastal Kent PCT 59.6 60.6 63.2 65.4 65.2 
		
	
	
		
			 West Kent PCT 58.0 57.5 58.3 60.7 60.6 
			 Notes: 1. Data as at 30 September for each year. 2. All GP figures are GPs (excluding retainers and registrars). 3. The PCT relating to the Dartford constituency is West Kent PCT. 4. GP headcount figures are published as 'per 100,000 population'. 5. GPs per head of population have been calculated using ONS resident population estimates as at May 2010, adjusting previously published data. 6. The new headcount methodology for 2010 data is not fully comparable with previous years' data due to improvements that make it a more stringent count of absolute staff numbers. Further information on the headcount methodology is available in the Census publication. Headcount totals are unlikely to equal the sum of components. 7. Data Quality: The NHS Information Centre for health and social care seeks to minimise inaccuracies and the effect of missing and invalid data but responsibility for data accuracy lies with the organisations providing the data. Methods are continually being updated to improve data quality where changes impact on figures already published. This is assessed but unless it is significant at national level figures are not changed. Impact at detailed or local level is footnoted in relevant analyses. Source: The NHS Information Centre for health and social care: General and Personal Medical Services Statistics; Office for National Statistics, 2006-2009 Final Mid-Year Population Estimates (2001 census based), adjusted May 2010 to reflect revisions to migration methodology.

Genito-urinary Medicine

Diane Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he plans to retain the 48 hour access target for genito-urinary medicine clinics; and if he will make a statement.

Anne Milton: There is currently no performance measure on access to a genito-urinary medicine (GUM) clinic in 2011-12.
	An existing commitment to deliver the 48 hour access to a GUM clinic indicator was in place in 2010-11.
	There has been no decline in performance in this area in the early months of 2011-12. The latest data for June 2011 shows that 99.9% of patients were offered an appointment within 48 hours. We are currently developing a new sexual health policy framework which will recognise the continuing importance of rapid access to GUM services.

Health Professions: Languages

David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he has taken to ensure staff in the NHS have the necessary language skills to perform their duties.

Anne Milton: The Department of Health in England has made it clear to all national health service employers that they should ensure that those they appoint have suitable skills and competence for the role, including the ability to communicate, and clear guidance has been provided on this issue. Primary care trusts also have a legal obligation to satisfy themselves that persons admitted to their performers lists have appropriate English language ability to provide primary care services.
	Steps have already been taken to strengthen the current system and as of 1 January 2011 all designated bodies must nominate or appoint a responsible officer with duties to check the qualifications and experience of doctors and to ensure that references are obtained and checked.
	We are continuing to work with the General Medical Council and we propose a stronger role for responsible officers which will build on their existing duties,
	We are also working with other regulatory bodies, to explore what scope there is for strengthening local checks on other health professions.

Influenza: Vaccination

Diane Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures he plans to take to encourage patients to have an influenza vaccination in 2011; and whether an influenza awareness campaign will take place during the 2011-12 winter.

Anne Milton: The Department published the Seasonal Flu Plan on 25 May, to assist local national health service organisations in developing robust and flexible operational plans for the 2011-12 flu season.
	The chief medical officer (CMO) wrote to the NHS on 14 March seeking assurance that primary care trusts (PCTs) have adequate local plans in place for the flu immunisation programme, have ordered sufficient vaccine and will use robust call and reminder systems to contact their eligible patients, including carers. The letter stated the need for the NHS to plan locally to reach or exceed the 75%, uptake for people under 65 in at-risk groups.
	The CMO wrote to the NHS again on 25 May outlining arrangements for the 2011 flu vaccination season, specifying the risk groups and the staff groups that should be vaccinated.
	Copies of both letters have already been placed in the Library.
	Most PCTs run localised activity with their general practitioners (GPs) to ensure that eligible patients are called up for their annual vaccination. The Department supports local activity through information provision and targeted messaging. The Department has produced an information leaflet in PDF format for the public, NHS organisations and GP practices to download for local patient information and will run reminder messages on pharmacy bags to encourage people in at-risk groups to be vaccinated against seasonal flu.
	Messages will appear on pharmacy bags across 2,225 pharmacies in England and run for four weeks from 24 October until 20 November. Pharmacy bags will support local campaigns as they target people in at-risk groups in a relevant setting, i.e. when they are collecting their prescription from their pharmacy.
	Additionally, the Department is working with relevant partner organisations, such as charities working for people with long-term conditions, to communicate seasonal flu messages via their channels.

Midwives: Manpower

Diane Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many midwives are employed by the NHS; and whether he has plans to increase the number of midwives.

Anne Milton: There are near record numbers of midwives in the national health service in England—20,654 full-time equivalents in June 2011. A rise of 522 (2.6%) since May 2010.
	The Department is committed to training the right number of midwives, based on the most up-to-date evidence. That is why we have asked the Centre for Workforce Intelligence to undertake an in-depth study of the nursing and maternity workforce during 2011-12 in order to inform the future commissioning of training places. This study will help inform our plans for the future.
	Is the responsibility of local NHS organisations to plan and deliver a workforce appropriate to the needs of their local population, based on clinical need and sound evidence.

NHS: Expenditure

Frank Dobson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much the NHS has spent on (a) pharmaceutical products, (b) IT equipment, (c) IT services, (d) hospital equipment and (e) management consultants in each of the last five years.

Simon Burns: The information is shown in the following table.
	
		
			 £000 
			  2009-10 2008-09 2007-08 2006-07 2005-06 
			 Pharmaceutical products(1) 10,033,033 9,870,769 9,809,508 9,815,035 9,710,696 
			 IT Equipment(2) 219,415 204,016 261,115 253,230 205,327 
			 IT Services(3) 186,760 190,066 207,703 194,276 203,080 
			 Hospital Equipment(4) 1,864,925 1,934,726 2,061,014 2,016,868 2,024,840 
		
	
	
		
			 Consultancy(5) 456,759 421,481 310,107 n/a n/a 
			 (1) Includes primary care prescribing (primary care trusts (PCTs)) and drugs used in secondary care (PCTs and national health service trusts). (2) Capital expenditure (purchased additions to non-current assets) under the "IT" heading (PCTs, strategic health authorities (SHAs) and NHS trusts). The figures do not include revenue expenditure on IT equipment, which is not separately identifiable from the financial data held. Source—NHS audited summarisation schedules. (3) Revenue expenditure on maintenance and data processing contracts (PCTs, SHAs and NHS trusts). Source—NHS financial returns. (4) Revenue expenditure on the purchase and maintenance of medical, surgical, x-ray and laboratory equipment. The figures do not include capital expenditure on hospital equipment, which is not separately identifiable from the financial data held. Source—NHS financial returns. (5) Consultancy services (PCTs, SHAs and NHS trusts). Data for consultancy services expenditure was collected for the first time in 2007-08. Source—NHS audited summarisation schedules. 
		
	
	The Department does not collect data from NHS foundation trusts. Where an NHS trust obtains foundation trust status part way through any year, the data provided is only for the part of the year the organisation operated as an NHS trust.
	Source:
	NHS audited summarisation schedules (prescribing costs) and NHS financial returns (drugs).

NHS: Land

Derek Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what recent estimate he has made of the extent of the NHS estate that will be transferred to private providers under the provisions of the Health and Social Care Bill;
	(2)  what his most recent estimate is of the monetary value of NHS land and buildings held by primary care trusts;
	(3)  what recent discussions he has had with private healthcare providers in respect of the potential use of NHS buildings or land.

Simon Burns: The Secretary of State for Health, my right hon. Friend the Member for South Cambridgeshire (Mr Lansley), has not had recent discussions with any private health care providers in respect of the potential use of national health service buildings or land.
	The total net book value of land and buildings held by primary care trusts (PCTs), as at 31March 2011, was £6,634,602,000.
	This figure is taken from the NHS (England) Summarised Accounts 2010-11. It excludes the value of assets under construction.
	As the Health and Social Care Bill provides that all strategic health authorities (SHAs) and PCTs will be abolished on 1 April 2013, it also permits transfers of properly and staff to an appropriate body listed in the Bill. The Bill also enables property transfer schemes to create additional rights or impose liabilities, which could, for example, be used to ensure that any property being transferred is required to be used for the delivery of NHS services.
	There are no plans centrally to sell NHS property or related assets to non-NHS organisations.

Royal Shrewsbury Hospital: Princess Royal Hospital Telford

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what weighting is given to submissions made to the consultation on the re-configuration of services between the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital and the Princess Royal Hospital, Telford by medical consultants currently associated with both hospitals.

Simon Burns: The reconfiguration of services is a matter for local decision. Queries about the local process, including weighting of consultation contributions, should be directed to the Shropshire county primary care trust and the NHS Telford and Wrekin.
	The Government have pledged that, in future, all service changes must be led by clinicians and patients, not be driven from the top down. To this end, we have outlined new, strengthened criteria that we expect decisions on NHS service changes to meet. They must focus on improving patient outcomes, consider patient choice, have support from general practitioner commissioners and be based on sound clinical evidence.

Sexually Transmitted Infections

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many (a) males and (b) females aged (i) 10, (ii) 11, (iii) 12, (iv) 13, (v) 14, (vi) 15, (vii) 16, (viii) 17, (ix) 18, (x) 19, (xi) 20 and (xii) 21 were diagnosed with each type of sexually-transmitted disease in each health authority area in each year since 1999; [R]
	(2)  what the incidence of each sexually-transmitted disease was in (a) males and (b) females aged (i) 10, (ii) 11, (iii) 12, (iv) 13, (v) 14, (vi) 15, (vii) 16, (viii) 17, (ix) 18, (x) 19, (xi) 20 and (xii) 21 in each health authority area in each year since 1999. [R]

Anne Milton: The data requested, which are only available by single year of age for 2009 and 2010 are shown in the following tables. These data include information provided by the National Chlamydia Screening Programme (NCSP) and by genito-urinary medicine (GUM) clinics. These data have been provided at national level only because of the risk of disclosure. For earlier years, only aggregated data by age group are available from GUM clinics. These data are provided at strategic health authority and national level for 1999 to 2008 and has been placed in the Library. As many infections can be asymptomatic the true incidence of sexually transmitted infections is difficult to measure.
	
		
			 Table 1: Sexually transmitted infection (STI) diagnoses reported in patients under 18 years of age in England, 2009  (1, 2, 3,)  ()  (4) 
			   Age (in years) 
			 Diagnosis Gender <13 13 14 15 16 17 Total 
			 Chlamydia Male 8 15 77 378 1,376 3,098 4,952 
			  Female 16 118 747 2,916 6,976 10,358 21,131 
			  Total(5) 24 133 824 3,302 8,377 13,486 26,146 
			          
			 Gonorrhoea Male 0 * * * 110 201 339 
			  Female * * * * 318 444 926 
			  Total(5) * * * 143 429 647 1,268 
		
	
	
		
			 Genital herpes Male 0 0 * * 44 99 154 
			  Female * 7 * * 402 642 1,262 
			  Total(5) * * * 172 446 741 1,416 
			          
			 Genital warts Male * * 5 37 203 630 894 
			  Female * * 115 467 1,282 2,458 4,364 
			  Total(5) 40 21 120 504 1,487 3,091 5,263 
			          
			 Other acute STIs(6) Male * * 32 159 450 1,199 1,852 
			  Female * * 87 310 690 1,191 2,296 
			  Total(5) 11 19 119 469 1,140 2,393 4,151 
			          
			 Total Male 31 24 119 607 2,183 5,227 8,191 
			  Female 48 164 1,031 3,975 9,668 15,093 29,979 
			  Total(5) 79 188 1,150 4,590 11,879 20,358 38,244 
		
	
	
		
			 Table 2: STI diagnoses reported in patients under 18 years of age in England, 2010  (1, 2, 3, 4) 
			   Age (in years) 
			 Diagnosis Gender <13 13 14 15 16 17 Total 
			 Chlamydia Male 11 13 78 424 1,471 3,270 5,267 
			  Female 10 109 782 2,919 6,999 9,895 20,714 
			  Total(5) 21 122 862 3,352 8,486 13,190 26,033 
			          
			 Gonorrhoea Male 0 * * * 86 187 294 
			  Female 0 * * * 272 389 820 
			  Total(5) 0 9 35 136 358 577 1,115 
			          
			 Genital herpes Male * 0 * * 36 104 154 
			  Female * * * * 391 625 1,227 
			  Total(5) * * 40 177 427 729 1,381 
			          
			 Genital warts Male * * 7 49 176 533 784 
			  Female * * 85 436 1,099 2,075 3,729 
			  Total(5) 40 13 92 485 1,275 2,611 4,516 
			          
			 Other acute STIs(6) Male * * 26 99 420 982 1,534 
			  Female * * 89 295 670 1,169 2,239 
			  Total(5) * * 115 394 1,090 2,151 3,773 
			          
			 Total Male 32 20 114 602 2,189 5,076 8,033 
			  Female 39 145 1,028 3,933 9,431 14,153 28,729 
			  Total(5) 71 165 1,144 4,544 11,636 19,258 36,818 
			 (1) Sources—National Chlamydia Screening Programme (NCSP) and Genitourinary Medicine Clinic Activity Data-set (GUMCAD) returns to the Health Protection Agency (HPA). (2) Data from infants (age 0) were excluded as these were most probably due to mother to child transmission. (3) Data with incorrect year of birth and data entry errors may also have been included. (4) Small cell values between 1 and 4 have been anonymised (with an asterix *) to prevent deductive disclosure. Where the anonymised cell can be deduced from the total it has been necessary to anonymise additional data from the same row/column. (5) Data total may include ‘not known’ gender. (6) Data for 'other acute STIs' include chancroid, lymphogranuloma venerum, molluscum contagiosum(7), non-specific genital infection, pediculus pubis(7), scabies(7), syphilis and trichomoniasis. (7) Other acute STIs not exclusively transmitted by sexual contact. Note: Data on patients aged 15 and over by age groups and gender are available on the HPA website: www.hpa.org.uk/stiannualdatatables

Sexually Transmitted Infections

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how much the NHS spent on treatment of sexually-transmitted diseases in (a) males and (b) females in each year since 1999; [R]
	(2)  how much was spent by each health authority on treatment of sexually-transmitted diseases in (a) males and (b) females in each year since 1999. [R]

Anne Milton: The Department does not collect information on national health service expenditure on treating sexually transmitted infections broken down by sex of patients.
	However since 2003-04 the Department has collected programme budgeting estimates of primary care trust expenditure on disease categories including genito urinary system problems and infectious diseases. Since 2006-07 information has also been collected on subcategories of these disease programmes including sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV and AIDS. This information is available at England and strategic health authority level (SHA) in the following tables.
	
		
			 Programme budgeting estimated England level gross expenditure on genito urinary system problems and infectious diseases for 2003-04 to 2009-10 and sexually transmitted infections and HIV and AIDS for 2006-07 to 2009-10 
			  England level gross expenditure (£ million) 
			 Programme b  udgeting subcategory 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 
			 Genito urinary system problems 2,809.2 3,097.6 3,507.7 3,755.3 3,646.0 4,003.7 4,630.1 
			 Genito urinary system problems—Sexually transmitted infections — — — 227.2 245.0 279.5 292.5 
			 Infectious diseases 977.4 1.615.5 1,257.7 1,301.2 1,333.2 1,418.0 1,907.4 
			 Infectious diseases—HIV and AIDS — — — 497.5 542.6 654.4 762.9 
		
	
	
		
			 Programme budgeting estimated strategic health authority expenditure on genito urinary system problems for 2003-04 to 2009-10 and sexually transmitted infections for 2006-07 to 2009-10 
			  Estimated expenditure on own population (£ million) 
			  2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 
			 Strategic health authority Genito urinary system problems Genito urinary system problems Genito urinary system problems Genito urinary system problems Sexually Transmitted Infections 
			 North East 129.3 159.1 175.1 80.2 12.6 
			 North West 403.8 450.0 488.0 169.2 23.2 
			 Yorkshire and Humber 272.5 299.6 326.6 119.5 25.9 
			 East Midlands 210.1 253.3 282.0 106.2 15.0 
			 West Midlands 279.4 322.2 372.8 126.2 18.4 
			 East of England 257.7 293.2 305.6 116.5 26.3 
			 London 514.4 556.8 593.9 162.6 45.8 
			 South East Coast 222.9 243.3 261.1 117.7 12.9 
			 South Central 187.5 222.5 241.0 102.7 18.9 
			 South West 242.6 267.5 267.4 103.1 16.1 
		
	
	
		
			  Estimated expenditure on own population (£ million) 
			  2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 
			 Strategic health authority Genito urinary system problems Sexually Transmitted Infections Genito urinary system problems Sexually   transmitted infections Genito urinary system problems Sexually   transmitted infections 
			 North East 68.2 6.9 76.0 11.0 95.0 12.5 
			 North West 193.6 32.3 201.6 32.7 229.1 40.2 
			 Yorkshire and Humber 126.1 15.5 140.2 28.0 166.0 27.1 
			 East Midlands 101.5 12.4 113.3 19.6 126.1 24.2 
			 West Midlands 141.7 22.1 156.3 30.3 164.6 28.6 
			 East of England 107.3 28.2 128.4 37.2 150.7 29.3 
			 London 175.2 63.2 205.9 70.6 263.1 66.6 
			 South East Coast 113.6 17.1 121.2 12.2 150.3 23.8 
			 South Central 98.6 23.9 94.7 15.2 96.7 16.6 
			 South West 120.6 17.0 129.7 21.2 149.4 19.5 
		
	
	
		
			 Programme budgeting estimated strategic health authority expenditure on infectious diseases for 2003-04 to 2009-10 and HIV and AIDS for 2006-07 to 2009-10 
			  Estimated expenditure on own population (£ million) 
			  2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 
			 Strategic health authority Infectious   d  iseases Infectious   diseases Infectious   d  iseases Infectious   diseases HIV and AIDS 
			 North East 40.8 46.7 52.4 53.4 7.8 
			 North West 107.6 122.2 135.1 133.2 31.1 
			 Yorkshire and Humber 82.7 85.4 102.7 83.9 14.7 
			 East Midlands 54.9 65.7 73.5 59.3 10.9 
			 West Midlands 69.8 76.3 89.2 78.3 22.0 
			 East of England 69.3 81.9 91.0 96.2 23.3 
			 London 285.7 316.1 408.2 348.6 216.6 
			 South East Coast 63.2 71.0 74.4 77.9 26.4 
			 South Central 47.3 55.3 59.2 52.8 10.2 
			 South West 61.5 73.5 75.2 70.1 9.9 
		
	
	
		
			  Estimated expenditure on own population (£ million) 
			  2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 
			 Strategic health authority Infectious   d  iseases HIV and AIDS Infectious   d  iseases HIV and AIDS Infectious   d  iseases HIV and AIDS 
			 North East 47.2 10.2 53.7 14.2 59.6 16.2 
			 North West 134.5 36.7 152.3 47.5 179.6 52.3 
			 Yorkshire and Humber 91.1 16.2 93.9 20.6 108.5 30.2 
			 East Midlands 66.8 13.4 72.3 20.0 88.5 23.7 
			 West Midlands 83.8 23.5 87.6 26.5 103.3 32.9 
			 East of England 86.6 17.9 84.2 23.9 127.9 43.1 
			 London 386.6 249.6 414.8 289.9 459.9 321.4 
			 South East Coast 86.7 35.1 104.2 51.2 106.3 48.5 
			 South Central 64.4 16.1 57.7 14.6 68.1 19.9 
			 South West 71.9 14.5 80.8 22.2 95.0 26.4 
			 Notes: 1. Estimated England level expenditure figures are calculated using PCT and SHA programme budgeting returns and Department of Health resource account data. Figures will include an estimate of special health authority expenditure. 2. SHA level expenditure is calculated using the combined expenditure on own population figures of each PCT within the SHA area. It does not include expenditure by the SHA. 3. In order to improve data quality, continual refinements have been made to the programme budgeting data calculation methodology since the first collection in 2003-04. The underlying data which support programme budgeting data are also subject to yearly changes. Caution is therefore advised when using programme budgeting data to draw conclusions on changes in spending patterns between years. 4. From 2003-04 to 2005-06, expenditure on sexually transmitted infections was included within the Genito Urinary system problems category and was therefore not separately identified. Expenditure on HIV and AIDS is not included in expenditure on sexually transmitted infections but has been separately identified as a subcategory of Infectious diseases since 2006-07. 5. Disease specific expenditure do not include expenditure on prevention, or health promotion and programmes such as the National Chlamydia Screening Programme or general practitioner expenditure, but do include prescribing expenditure. 6. Figures are rounded to the nearest £0.1 million.

Smoking

Jason McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent representations he has received from operators of cigarette vending machines on the implementation of the ban on such machines from 1 October 2011.

Anne Milton: We have received a number of items of correspondence from tobacco vending machine operators since July when litigation challenging the vending machine legislation was concluded. On 28 July 2011 the Supreme Court refused the application to appeal by Sinclair Collis (a vending machine operator wholly owned by Imperial Tobacco), following decisions in the High Court and Appeal Court finding the legislation to be lawful.
	Since July, the Department's officials have also worked in liaison with the National Association of Cigarette Machines Operators on the implementation of the legislation, including the development of guidance for those with cigarette vending machines on their premises.

Wi-Fi: Health Hazards

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the effects on the health of (a) humans and (b) animals of multiple wi-fi networks which are operational 24 hours a day in flats or houses in multiple occupation; and if he will make a statement.

Anne Milton: The Health Protection Agency (HPA) advises the Government in relation to the protection of communities from radiation hazards, including those associated with exposure to non-ionising radiation such as the radio waves from wireless communication systems. The HPA has concluded that there is no consistent evidence to date that exposure to radio signals from wi-fi and wireless local area networks adversely affects the health of the general population. The signals are very low power, typically 0.1 watt (100 milliwatts) in both the computer and the router (access point), and the results so far show exposures are well within the internationally-accepted guidelines from the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection. The HPA also considers it sensible, as with any new technology, to adopt a precautionary approach, and keeps the situation under review.
	The HPA's independent Advisory Group on Non-ionising Radiation (AGNIR) reviewed health effects in relation to radio waves in 2003 for the then National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB). See documents of the NRPB, volume 14, number 2, which is available on the HPA website at:
	www.hpa.org.uk/Publications/Radiation/NPRBArchive/DocumentsOfTheNRPB/Absd1402/
	AGNIR is currently updating this review and is due to publish its findings, in 2012. In between the publication of formal review reports, HPA monitors emerging scientific studies and keeps its advice under review.
	The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs advise that they are unaware of any specific assessment on wi-fi networks and animal health.

Departmental Sick Leave

Mike Freer: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice for how many days on average his Department's staff in each pay grade were absent from work as a result of ill health in 2010-11.

Kenneth Clarke: In 2010-11 the average working days lost by civil service grade are set out in the following table:
	
		
			 Civil service grade Average working days lost (AWDL) 
			 AA 11.2 
			 AO 10.0 
			 EO 8.0 
			 HEO 6.2 
			 SEO 5.5 
			 G7 3.8 
			 G6 3.2 
			 SCS 1.8 
			 Overall 9.2 
			 Note: The AWDL data includes the Ministry of Justice HQ (excluding agencies), National Offender Management Services, HM Courts and Tribunal Services, Office of Public Guardian, The National Archives, Land Registry, Wales Office and Scotland Office. 
		
	
	Reducing sickness absence continues to be a key priority for managers across the Ministry and its agencies. Locally owned targets are in place for all business areas. These are supported by action plans with activities designed to tackle sickness absence through early intervention, continuing effective management of each case and encouraging staff to return to work as soon as they are able.

Drugs: Convictions

Nicola Blackwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 15 June 2011, Official Report, column 839W, on drugs: convictions 
	(1)  in respect of how many offences of (a) possession and (b) supply and possession with intent to supply a drug in each category of classification the perpetrator was not brought to court but given a police caution in each of the last three years;
	(2)  how many cautions were given in relation to all categories of offence in each year for which figures were given;
	(3)  how many of the other sentences handed out for all three categories on drugs offences involved fines; and what the average fine imposed was in respect of each category of offence;
	(4)  what the average length of prison sentence was for each category of drug-related offence in each year since 2007;
	(5)  how many of those given maximum sentences for each of the categories of drugs offence between 2007 and 2010 received such sentences in (a) the Crown Court and (b) a magistrates court; and what the name was of each court in which such sentences were handed down;
	(6)  what the categories of other sentences represented in the table in the answer are; and how many of each category of offence were disposed of through each other sentence.

Crispin Blunt: I will write to the hon. Member with the information requested as soon as possible.

Drugs: Convictions

Gareth Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people in Dartford constituency have been convicted of offences related to (a) possession and (b) supply of illegal drugs of each classification level in each year since 2007; and how many such people received (i) a custodial sentence and (ii) the maximum sentence in each case.

Crispin Blunt: I will write to the hon. Member with the information requested as soon as possible.

Legal Representation: Police Stations

Debbie Abrahams: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the Resolution of the House of 14 September 2011, on Access to a Lawyer, what his policy is on the right of access to a lawyer at a police station.

Kenneth Clarke: I issued a written ministerial statement on 11 October 2011, Official Report, columns 23-24WS, setting out the Government's position. The Government believes that access to a lawyer is an essential right of accused persons at appropriate stages of any process of criminal investigation. However, the Government have not opted in to the European Union Directive on Access to a Lawyer in Criminal Proceedings and on the Right to Communicate upon Arrest at the initial stage of the negotiations on the directive because we are of the view that the directive as published by the Commission is not proportionate and could have an adverse effect on our ability to investigate and prosecute offences effectively. The Government intends to work together with other member states to improve the directive and if the concerns we have are taken into account during the process of negotiation, we will consider applying to opt in once the instrument has been adopted.

Magistrates' Courts: Barry

Alun Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many letters he has received regarding the closure of Barry magistrates court.

Jonathan Djanogly: The Ministry of Justice has received seven Ministers' cases and ‘Treat Official’ correspondence regarding the closure of Barry Magistrates' Court since the decision was announced on 14 December 2010.

Prison Sentences: Human Rights

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many prisoners have challenged their prison sentence on human rights grounds in each of the last five years.

Jonathan Djanogly: The Ministry of Justice holds statistical information in relation to the number of appeals received against sentences, dealt with in the Crown court and the Criminal Division of the Court of Appeal. However, central administrative databases for courts do not store information on the number of prisoners who have challenged their sentence on Human Rights grounds in each of the last five years.
	While such appeals will be logged onto the administrative computer systems used in the Crown court and the Court of Appeal, they cannot be distinguished from other types of appeals. As such, the information requested can be obtained only through the manual inspection of individual case files held by the courts at disproportionate cost.
	Statistics are published on the number of appeals received and dealt with against sentences in England and Wales, from 2006 to 2010, in the Ministry of Justice's statistical bulletin ‘Judicial and Court Statistics’, the most recent edition of which was published on 30 June 2011. The number of appeals against sentences dealt with in the Crown court can be found in table 4.10 and those dealt with in the Court of Appeal in table 7.6. The report is available on the Ministry's website at:
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/statistics-and-data/courts-and-sentencing/judicial-annual.htm

Prisoners: Indonesia

Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many Indonesian nationals are currently held in UK prisons.

Crispin Blunt: As at the end of June 2011, the most recent available data, there were no Indonesian nationals in prison in England and Wales.
	Information on the foreign national prison population in England and Wales is published quarterly in the ‘Offender Management Statistics Quarterly Bulletin’ available on the Ministry of Justice website via the following link:
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/statistics-and-data/prisons-and-probation/oms-quarterly.htm
	table 1.5 refers.
	These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.

Prisons: Expenditure

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  what estimate his Department has made of the average cost of a prisoner place bought by the National Offender Management Service from each privately-run prison in the latest period for which figures are available;
	(2)  what budget his Department allocated to each prison for financial years (a) 2010-11, (b) 2011-12, (c) 2012-13 and (d) 2013-14.

Crispin Blunt: The following table shows the latest cost per place and per prisoner available for financial year 2009-10. Figures for 2010-11 are not yet finalised.
	The direct cost reflects mainly the direct contract costs for each private prison. The overall cost also includes some costs met centrally by NOMS. This includes some estimation.
	The capital repayment element of the contractors’ charge is not included in the cost per place/prisoner as it is not part of the annual resource operating cost.
	Doncaster and Wolds are privately-managed prisons, while the remainder are run under private finance initiative contract arrangements.
	Cost per prison place is expressed in terms of the baseline certified normal accommodation number of places.
	
		
			 2009-10 
			 £ 
			  Direct resource expenditure Overall expenditure 
			  Cost per place Cost per prisoner Cost per place Cost per prisoner 
			 Altcourse 58,486 35,883 61,926 37,993 
			 Ashfield 56,858 81,292 57,273 81,885 
			 Bronzefield 51,817 54,865 56,126 59,428 
			 Doncaster 30,475 21,018 43,937 30,302 
			 Dovegate 34,844 32,995 37,039 35,074 
			 Forest Bank 36,051 26,300 40,173 29,307 
			 Lowdham Grange 31,114 29,215 34,191 32,105 
			 Parc 54,169 38,660 56,974 40,662 
			 Peterborough 37,253 32,937 41,462 36,658 
			 Rye Hill 30,775 28,284 33,632 30,910 
			 Wolds 29,195 24,197 40,737 33,765 
			 Total 40,840 33,354 45,409 37,086 
		
	
	Budgets
	The following table shows the direct resource outturn expenditure for each public sector prisons for financial year 2010-11 and will shortly be published as an addendum to NOMS annual accounts for period 2010-11; individual budget allocations for 2011-12 are not routinely published and do not provide a useful source of data for meaningful comparisons as these are subject to change throughout the year to reflect operational business decisions.
	
		
			 2010-11 direct resource expenditure 
			  £ million 
			 Garth 20.1 
			 Gartree 17.1 
			 Grendon (HMP Grendon and Springhill) 14.2 
			 Kingston 6.1 
			 Acklington 19.0 
			 Ashwell 8.1 
			 Blundeston 12.5 
			 Buckley Hall 9.8 
			 Bullwood Hall 6.5 
			 Bure 11.2 
			 Canterbury 7.3 
			 Channings Wood 15.9 
			 Coldingley 14.1 
			 Dartmoor 14.3 
			 Edmunds Hill 9.1 
			 Erlestoke 10.7 
			 Everthorpe 12.2 
			 Featherstone 14.5 
			 Guys Marsh 11.6 
			 Haverigg 13.7 
			 Highpoint 17.7 
			 HMP Kennet 10.9 
			 Lancaster Castle 7.2 
			 Lindholme (includes Immigration Removal Centre) 19.5 
			 Littlehey 22.4 
			 Maidstone 11.4 
			 Moorland 20.4 
			 Mount (The) 16.3 
			 Onley 15.9 
			 Ranby 20.9 
			 Risley 20.8 
			 Shepton Mallet 5.8 
			 Stafford 14.6 
			 Stocken 15.5 
			 Usk 7.6 
			 Verne (The) 11.3 
			 Wayland 18.0 
		
	
	
		
			 Wealstun 17.0 
			 Wellingborough 11.9 
			 Whatton 17.2 
			 Wymott 23.2 
			 Frankland 39.6 
			 Full Sutton 28.6 
			 Long Lartin 29.1 
			 Wakefield 29.2 
			 Whitemoor 30.4 
			 Downview 9.9 
			 Foston Hall 9.0 
			 Send 8.5 
			 Eastwood Park 11.4 
			 Holloway 18.9 
			 Low Newton 11.5 
			 New Hall 14.5 
			 Styal 14.1 
			 Askham Grange 3.1 
			 East Sutton Park 2.7 
			 Aylesbury 12.6 
			 Brinsford 15.5 
			 Castington 13.4 
			 Deerbolt 14.2 
			 Feltham 31.9 
			 Glen Parva 17.6 
			 Hindley 18.6 
			 Isis 12.3 
			 Lancaster Farms 15.4 
			 Northallerton 5.5 
			 Portland 14.9 
			 Reading 8.2 
			 Rochester 16.6 
			 Stoke Heath 17.1 
			 Swinfen Hall 14.6 
			 Cookham Wood 9.5 
			 Huntercombe 12.9 
			 Warren Hill 10.1 
			 Werrington 7.1 
			 Wetherby 15.8 
			 Bedford 11.6 
			 Belmarsh 39.7 
			 Birmingham 30.0 
			 Bristol 15.5 
			 Brixton 21.4 
			 Bullingdon 21.1 
			 Cardiff 16.1 
			 Chelmsford 17.5 
			 Dorchester 7.3 
			 Durham 22.2 
			 Exeter 13.0 
			 Gloucester 8.9 
			 Highdown 22.1 
			 Holme House 24.6 
			 Hull 20.5 
			 Leeds 23.5 
			 Leicester 8.9 
			 Lewes 15.6 
			 Lincoln 14.5 
			 Liverpool 26.3 
			 Manchester 36.0 
			 Norwich 16.0 
			 Nottingham 22.2 
			 Pentonville 29.2 
		
	
	
		
			 Preston 18.5 
			 Shrewsbury 8.5 
			 Swansea 9.3 
			 Wandsworth 33.5 
			 Winchester 14.6 
			 Woodhill 32.9 
			 Wormwood Scrubs 27.1 
			 Ford 7.8 
			 Hollesley Bay 6.9 
			 Kirkham 12.9 
			 Leyhill 10.6 
			 North Sea Camp 6.1 
			 Sudbury 8.1 
			 Thorn Cross 8.5 
			 Blantyre House 3.0 
			 Drake Hall 8.1 
			 Kirklevington Grange 5.6 
			 Latchmere House 4.4 
			 Morton Hall 7.9 
			 Brockhill/Hewell Grange/Blakenhurst 28.3 
			 Sheppey Clustered Services 51.9 
			 Isle of Wight 39.5 
			 Total 1,955.8 
			   
			 Notes: 1. Figures subject to rounding. 2. In order to improve comparability, rental costs (such as land or premises ) are not included in the figures for Dartmoor, Lancaster Castle, Huntercombe and Shrewsbury. 3. Figures do not include private/contracted out prisons. 4. Data for Elmley, Standford Hill and Swaleside prisons included under Isle of Sheppey cluster. 5. Data for Blakenhurst, Brockhill and Hewell Grange prisons included as one cluster. 6. Data for Albany, Camp Hill and Parkhurst prisons included under Isle of Wight cluster. 7. Dover and Hasler are excluded (Immigration Removal Centres). 
		
	
	Establishment funding s ettlements 2012-13 and 2013-14
	Budget allocations for financial years 2012-13 and 2013-14 are not yet allocated.

Prisons: Private Sector

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice for what reason staff in the contracted out prison estate are not able to participate in national control and restraint teams; and if he will make a statement.

Crispin Blunt: There are no restrictions on the participation of staff from contracted-out prisons in national control and restraint teams. The contracted-out prisons are trained by public sector staff and are deployed alongside HMPS staff.

Brighton

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport if he will set out, with statistical evidence relating as closely as possible to Brighton Pavilion constituency, the effects of his Department's policies on that constituency from 11 October 2010 to date.

John Penrose: The impact of the Department's policies on the Brighton, Pavilion constituency—including those delivered by our arm’s length bodies—from 11 October 2010 to date, include:
	Digital Switchover is due to take place in the Brighton, Pavilion constituency in February 2012. By the time switchover is complete at the end of 2012, 98.5% of households nationwide will be able to receive digital TV—the same number that can currently receive analogue.
	The Arts Council have supported projects in Brighton, Pavilion with a total of £2,541,634.
	Heritage Lottery Fund has provided grants of £183,200 to the constituency.
	174 National Lottery grants totalling £4,728,057 were awarded to the Brighton and Hove area in 2010 and 125 grants with a total value of £5,563,838 have been awarded in 2011. Full details of the grants awarded for this year, including a breakdown of the amount and recipient project, can be found on the Department's website, using the link:
	http://www.lottery.culture.gov.uk/SearchResults.aspx?Year=2011&LA=Brighton%20and%20Hove
	The Department has implemented a number of new policies which are impacting upon, and will continue to affect the Brighton Pavilion constituency. These include:
	The establishment and launch of the School games in September 2011, which will give every child the opportunity to take part and compete in sport, and create a legacy from London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic games.
	The launch of the local TV action plan, with the goal for 10 to 20 local TV services to be in operation by 2015.
	Supporting English local authorities and the devolved Administrations in rolling out broadband in remote areas, with the target of delivering the best superfast broadband in Europe by 2015.
	The publication of a long-term strategy for tourism to create a legacy from London 2012 and the Queen's diamond jubilee, with the aim of attracting an extra four million overseas visitors over the next four years, bringing in an extra £2 billion of spending and creating thousands of jobs.
	The Brighton, Pavilion constituency has also benefited from other policies and spending whose impact cannot be broken down by constituency, such as:
	Over £4 billion of Exchequer funding spent on culture.
	Between 2005-06 and 2010-11, the proportion of people visiting a museum, gallery or archive in the last year increased (from 42.3% to 47.5%). There was a record 43.8 million visitors to museums in 2010-11—with many museums recording their highest visitor figures ever.

Broadband: Scotland

Margaret Curran: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what information his Department holds on the number of households in each income decile in Scotland which have access to broadband internet.

Edward Vaizey: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport does not record information on households with broadband by income decile. Where appropriate the Department for Culture, Media and Sport refer to data in Ofcom's Communications Market reports and other publicly available data.
	Page 29 figure 4.2 of Ofcom's latest Communications Market report: Scotland, published in August 2011, includes data on broadband take up in Scotland by social group and household income.
	http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/binaries/research/cmr/cmr11/CMR_2011_Scotland.pdf

Departmental Procurement

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how many contracts his Department has awarded directly to (a) small, (b) medium-sized and (c) large businesses in each month since May 2010; what the value was of such contracts; and if he will make a statement.

John Penrose: The number of contracts this Department has awarded to Small and Medium enterprises (SMEs) and large business since May 2010, with their value, are in the following table:
	
		
			 Date SME contracts Value (£) Large company contracts Value (£) 
			 May 2010 4 8,507.65 1 1,753.30 
			 June 2010 4 22,223,80 0 0 
			 July 2010 4 6,068,87 2 2,863 
			 August 2010 2 3,142 2 23,400 
			 September 2010 3 4,050 1 2,000 
		
	
	
		
			 October 2010 3 11,700 1 3,090 
			 November 2010 3 13,340 1 3,524.22 
			 December 2010 1 6,484.30 0 0 
			 January 2011 14 225,504.26 3 9,095.60 
			 February 2011 23 124,520.82 4 17,797.78 
			 March 2011 22 85,526.71 8 161,431 
			 April 2011 16 907,159.07 3 59,305.23 
			 May 2011 9 64,698.03 5 148,566 
			 June 2011 15 318,648 5. 7,077.92 
			 July 2011 13 28,601.90 3 5,353,937 
			 August 2011 17 8,856.24 3 24,349 
			 September 2011 10 72,136.91 1 24,022.47 
			 Total 163 1,911,168.56 43 5,842,212.52 
		
	
	The Department does not separate SMEs.

Departmental Security

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what steps his Department is taking to improve cyber-security in relation to his Department's estate; and if he will make a statement.

Edward Vaizey: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has a yearly IT security compliance review that includes an independent penetration test against its firewalls and associated policies. Assurance obtained through conducting such tests is used as evidence to demonstrate compliance when renewing the Government secure internet (GSI) code of connection. This is a yearly requirement that incorporates new measures regarding cyber security detailed in the Government's Communication Electronics Security Group (CESG) Good Practice Guides which must be satisfied in order for The Department to conduct business up to and including Impact Level 3 (Restricted). DCMS currently has full accreditation certified by CESG. In addition to the yearly audit, the Department receives regular threat assessments from the technical authority 'GovCertUK' that are addressed immediately by Atos, the Department's IT service provider.

Film Industry

Jim McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how much money his Department allocated to support the British film industry through (a) the National Lottery, (b) grant-in-aid to the UK Film Council, British Film Institute, the National Film and Television School, (c) national and regional development schemes, (d) BBC and Channel 4 Films and (e) EU funding for each year from 2008 to 2013; and how much of the allocated funding was spent in each year from 2008 to 2011.

Edward Vaizey: Grant in Aid (GIA) and Lottery allocation (before Olympic reduction) and spend for film through the UK Film Council (UKFC) and British Film Institute (BFI) as of 1 April 2011 is as follows:
	
		
			 £ million 
			  2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 
			 Income      
			 Lottery income 32,038 34,248 36,968 39,941 46,049 
			 CIA allocation 30,064 37,034 45,563 31,218 23,152 
			       
			 Expenditure      
			 Lottery spend 40,315 41,323 38,541 — — 
			 GIA spend 30,131 39,342 45,307 — — 
			 The National Film and Television School (GIA) 2,978 3,059 3,038 (1)1,452 — 
			 (1) Year to date. 
		
	
	The Department does not direct the BBC to spend any specific sum on films. Within the framework of its Charter and Agreement and the licence fee settlement, it is for the BBC to decide how to allocate its funding in the fulfilment of its objectives.
	The Department does not provide any funding to Channel 4, which is commercially funded. Funding for regional programmes is allocated through the UK Film Council/BFI, Regional Development Agencies and European funds and not directly by the Department.
	The Department does not allocate EU funding for film.
	Details of funding through the MEDIA programme and other EU funding for film as well as details of national and regional funding and funding allocated by the BBC and Film4 can be seen in the BFI Statistical Yearbook:
	http://statisticalyearbook11.ry.com/?id=83050

Local Broadcasting: Radio

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport for what reasons community radio organisations in Liverpool are excluded from making applications for community radio licences in 2012-13.

Edward Vaizey: Community radio organisations in Liverpool are not excluded from applying for community radio licences in 2012-13. Applications for licences from the north-west will be invited in the first half of 2013. While there are some areas of the north-west where Ofcom will be unable to invite applications for FM licences, due to a lack of available frequencies, Ofcom will consider at the time applications are invited, whether capacity on MW might be available.

Mobile Phones

Andrew Percy: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the potential economic value to the UK of the deployment of LTE mobile technology.

Edward Vaizey: Any assessment of the economic value of LTE services to the UK would normally fall to Ofcom to produce. The Department has not made any such assessment.

Departmental Consultants

David Simpson: To ask the Attorney-General what procedures the Law Officers' Departments use when engaging external consultants.

Dominic Grieve: The Treasury Solicitor's Department (TSol) adheres to Cabinet Office guidance which requires consultancy contracts of £20,000 and above to receive appropriate departmental approval, and Cabinet Office and HM Treasury approval where:
	Contracts are expected to last longer than nine months
	Pre-existing contracts are extended to take the total life of the contract beyond 9 months, or:
	In the case of procurement-related consultancy, the cost is over £20,000.
	Internally, all funding applications are submitted to the finance director for preliminary checks to ensure that the requirement is of operational necessity; it cannot be met by in-house resources; and the commercial proposal represents value for money with a demonstrable return on investment and does not exceed advice on prices and rates provided by the Efficiency Reform Group. Subject to these criteria being met a request for approval is put to TSol's Performance & Investment Committee.
	In the event that the use of consultants is approved, the procurement will be undertaken using, preferably, an existing framework arrangement or through an open competition advertised on the approved Contracts Finder site. TSol is also mindful that, should tendered prices exceed approved rate card maxima, it may be necessary to re-submit the business case for appropriate approvals.
	If the Department were to require consultancy services above the threshold of £20,000, the Department would formally re-consider the need for the services every three months and, should the need appear likely to continue beyond a nine month period, seek Cabinet Office approval to prolong the contract.
	In parallel with its formal procedures, TSol seeks to secure value for money and knowledge transfer from consultants as part of its on-going management of resources.
	The Attorney-General's Office and HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate are covered by the same arrangements used by TSol.
	The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) follows the same central Government Procurement guidelines for engaging external consultants as with any other procurement process. Guidance is provided to SFO staff.
	The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) defines consultancy services in line with the Office of Government Commerce's Consultancy Value programme.
	In May 2010, the CPS adopted a new approval process for all consultancy engagements. The process involves the preparation of a business case which contains as a minimum: a description of the requirement; anticipated length of engagement; and confirmation that the required skills are not available in-house.
	All business cases are referred to the finance director and chief executive officer (CEO) for approval. Those expected to exceed £20,000 in value are referred for ministerial level approval. Any extensions to approved engagements must follow the same process.
	Contracts for approved engagements are let via collaborative government framework agreements for consultancy services. Only in exceptional circumstances, where the required skills are not available via such agreements, would consideration be given to contracting with a firm or individual outside of a collaborative government framework agreement.

Departmental Consultants

Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Attorney-General how many consultants were employed in each of the Law Officers' Departments in each of the last three years; and from which companies.

Dominic Grieve: Details on the consulting firms used by the Law Officers' Departments during the last three financial years are contained in the following tables. Where data are available the number of consultants engaged from each firm has been provided.
	
		
			 Serious Fraud Office 
			  Number 
			 2008-09  
			 Corven 4 
			 Deloitte 1 
			 Involve 12 
			 PA Consulting 15 
			 Penna 2 
			 Veredus 2 
			 Luther Pendragon 1 
			   
			 2009-10  
			 Corven 9 
			 Involve 12 
			 PA Consulting 9 
			 Penna 2 
		
	
	
		
			 SCC 2 
			 Waterman 1 
			   
			 2010-11  
			 Avanquest 1 
			 COA Solutions 1 
			 Corven 3 
			 DTZ 2 
			 Eventworks 12 
			 Governetz 3 
			 Hill and Knowlton 1 
			 PA Consulting 11 
			 Penna 2 
			 Ravyn Systems 1 
			 SCC 2 
		
	
	
		
			 Treasury Solicitor's Department (TSol)  (1)  (, 2) 
			  Number 
			 2008-09 — 
			 Capgemini — 
			 Deloitte — 
			 KPMG — 
			 Tribal Consulting — 
			 Methods Consulting — 
			   
			 2009-10  
			 PA Consulting Group — 
			 Jacobs Babtie — 
			 Hyder Consulting — 
			   
			 2010-11  
			 Knight Frank — 
			 (1) The TSol data also covers the Attorney General's Office and HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate. (2 )TSol do not retain information on the number of individual consultants employed. 
		
	
	
		
			 Crown Prosecution Service  (l) 
			  Number 
			 2008-09  
			 Alpine Consortium en 1 
			 AMQIS Consortium 1 
			 AMTEC 1 
			 Badenoch and Clark 4 
			 Certes Computing Ltd 1 
			 DBI Consulting 1 
			 ELAN Computers 1 
			 Evolve Business Consultancy 3 
			 GovGap (COI) 2 
			 HedraPlc 1 
			 King's College School of Law 1 
			 Logica 1 
			 Methods Consulting 1 
			 Monarch Recruitment 1 
			 Mouchel 2 
			 NESCO 1 
			 NescoIT 1 
			 Networkers MSB 3 
			 Parity Resources 1 
			 QI Consulting 2 
			 Sand Resources Ltd 1 
			 Selex Communications 1 
			 Tribal/Avail 2 
		
	
	
		
			 Tribal Consortium 1 
			   
			 2009-10  
			 Avail Consulting 1 
			 Capgemini 1 
			 DBI Consulting 1 
			 Elan Computing 1 
			 GovGap 2 
			 Legal Inc 1 
			 Methods Consulting 1 
			 Mouchel 1 
			 NES IT 2 
			 NetworkersMSB 1 
			 PA Consulting 3 
			 Sand Resources 1 
			 Selex Communications 1 
			 Tribal Consortium 1 
			 Tribal Avail 2 
			   
			 2010-11  
			 Badenoch and Clark 1 
			 Outsource 1 
			 Tribal Consortium 1 
			 (1 )The table includes consultants who were appointed via employment agencies and other third parties, as well as those supplied via consultancy firms. Excluded are freelance consultants who were appointed directly and engagements with consultancy firms where a named individual was not appointed to work on the assignment. The CPS is a devolved organisation and it is possible that consultancy engagements between April 2008 and March 2011 have been entered into locally and not included in central records. To verify the details of any such engagements would incur disproportionate cost.

AlixPartners

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions his Department has had with the Cabinet Office's Efficiency and Reform Group in connection with the appointment of Alix Partners.

Peter Luff: Discussions took place on a number of different occasions between the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and the Cabinet Office's Efficiency and Reform Group on the MOD's need for external support to deliver the Department's strategic defence and security review renegotiation programme in connection with the appointment of AlixPartners.

Armed Forces: Charities

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of trends in the number of charities supporting the armed forces since 2003.

Andrew Robathan: We are very grateful for the vital role played by the voluntary sector in support of the armed forces community. The COBSEO, the Confederation of Service Charities, plays an important role in co-ordinating the work of charities in this sector.
	However, charities are independent bodies which the Ministry of Defence has no remit to oversee and therefore hold no data on the number of new charities being created to support the armed forces community.

Armed Forces: Housing

Gordon Henderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department has spent on rent for private sector accommodation for use by armed forces personnel in (a) 2007, (b) 2008, (c) 2009 and (d) 2010.

Andrew Robathan: Substitute Service Family Accommodation (SSFA) and Substitute Service Single Accommodation (SSSA) properties may be rented to accommodate service families and single serving personnel respectively when no suitable Ministry of Defence accommodation is available to entitlement at or close to the duty station. Substitute accommodation is only used as a last resort and often more than one service person may occupy an SSSA property.
	The amount spent on SSFA and SSSA per financial year is shown in the following tables:
	
		
			 SSFA properties 
			 Financial year Number of SSFA properties (as at 31 March) Cost (£ million) 
			 2006-07 1,279 18 
			 2007-08 1,190 18 
			 2008-09 1,391 20. 
			 2009-10 1,524 22 
			 2010-11 1,668 23 
		
	
	
		
			 SSSA properties 
			 Financial year Number of SSSA properties (as at 31 March) Cost (£  million) 
			 2006-07 4,095 40.5 
			 2007-08 4,479 44.5 
			 2008-09 4,806 50.9 
			 2009-10 4,803 55.9 
			 2010-11 4,454 53.0 
		
	
	These figures do not include properties rented from Annington Homes Ltd, bulk hire or those subject to private finance initiative arrangements.

Armed Forces: Housing

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reason there will be a three-year pause in the upgrade of service family accommodation properties from 2013.

Andrew Robathan: There will be a pause in the upgrade programme while the Ministry of Defence (MOD) works to reduce its funding gap, and to balance Defence priorities and the budget whilst protecting front-line operations.
	The MOD will continue to fund routine and response maintenance on accommodation, together with minor new works, including special needs adaptations; carpet replacement; and improvements delivered through the asset replacement programme, during the three year upgrade pause.

Armed Forces: Redundancy

Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service personnel have applied to be considered for redundancy since May 2010; and what assessment he has made of the effect of redundancy notices issued to service personnel on active duty.

Andrew Robathan: holding answer 12 October 2011
	There have been some 2,300 applications from members of the armed forces to be considered for compulsory redundancy in tranche one, of whom 1,770 were accepted.
	Service personnel in receipt of the operational allowance were exempt from redundancy unless they were volunteers. Those applicants who volunteered and were selected for redundancy while serving on operations are receiving the same level of support and advice as any others.

Armed Forces: Young People

Frank Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of the armed forces under the age of 18 years saw active service in (a) 2008-09, (b) 2009-10 and (c) 2010-11.

Andrew Robathan: In accordance with the Optional Protocol to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict (the Optional Protocol), Ministry of Defence policy is not to deploy personnel aged under 18 on operations.
	The United Kingdom ratified the Optional Protocol on 24 June 2003 and remains firmly committed to it. Every feasible step is taken, in accordance with our obligations, to prevent the involvement in hostilities of service personnel under the age of 18.
	We have protective measures, including single-service administrative guidelines and procedures and a system for tracking personnel, to reduce as far as possible the risk of unintentional deployments. We have also revised and re-issued the “Policy on the Care of Service Personnel under the Age of 18”. Our processes are, however, not infallible and the pressures on units prior to deployment have meant that there have been a small number of instances where service personnel have been inadvertently deployed to an operational theatre before their'18th birthday.
	There were four members of the armed forces who were under the age of 18 years and deployed to operational theatres between April 2008 and March 2010. As a result of tighter controls in units and at RAF Brize Norton no service personnel under the age of 18 years has deployed since January 2010.
	It is important to note that more than 60,000 service personnel have deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan since 1 April 2008. On the rare occasions when service personnel under the age of 18 years deploy in error, it is our policy to remove them from an operational theatre as soon as possible.

Civil Society Department: Finance

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many letters he has received on funding for civil societies organisations within his Department's area of responsibility in each month since 1 June 2010; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Robathan: The information requested is not held in a format that would allow for the identification of the number of letters about funding for the civil sector without incurring disproportionate cost.

Departmental Manpower

Eilidh Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many civilian employees, including civil servants, his Department has employed on average in each year since 2005.

Andrew Robathan: The first table shows the average strength of the Ministry of Defence civilian work force by financial year from 2004-05 to 2010-11. The average figure for financial year 2011-12 is not yet available. Therefore the second table shows strength in April and July 2011.
	
		
			 Financial year Full-time equivalent (FTE) 
			 2004-05(1) 108,750 
			 2005-06(1) 106,760 
			 2006-07(1) 101,000 
		
	
	
		
			 2007-08(1) 94,100 
			 2008-09(1) 87,950 
			 2009-10(1) 86,230 
			 2010-11(1) 84,460 
		
	
	
		
			  Full-time equivalent (FTE) 
			 April 2011(2, 3) 83,060 
			 July 2011(2) 81,150 
			 (1) Average strength based on a weighted 13 month average, summing half of first and last month, plus all of remaining 11 months and dividing by 12. (2) Totals include core TLB, trading fund personnel, Royal Fleet Auxiliary staff, and locally engaged civilians. (3) Denotes estimate—April 2011 locally engaged civilian figures are 'estimates' due to non-availability of data. Notes: 1. All numbers rounded to the nearest 10. Numbers ending in five have been rounded to the nearest multiple of 20 to prevent systematic bias. 2. All numbers are listed in FTE terms. Source: DASA (Quad-Service)

European Union

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his Department's policy is on the creation of an EU permanent operational headquarters.

Gerald Howarth: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 10 October 2011, Official Report, column 53W, to my hon. Friend the Member for Redditch (Karen Lumley) and my hon. Friend the Member for South West Wiltshire (Dr Murrison).

Ex-servicemen: Falkland Islands

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps his Department is taking to (a) commemorate the 30th Anniversary of the Falklands conflict and (b) support veterans of the conflict wishing to return to the Islands to mark the occasion.

Andrew Robathan: Following consultation with the relevant veterans groups, plans for the Ministry of Defence (MOD)'s involvement in commemorating the 30th Anniversary of the Falkland Islands conflict are well advanced. The MOD will provide assistance and support to organised events marking the 30th Anniversary. For example, there will be armed forces participation in an event to dedicate a new Falklands memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum.
	From 1 September 2008, the concessionary use of indulgence passages to the Falkland Islands via the airbridge on Royal Air Force or MOD chartered aircraft has been available to veterans (service and civilian) of the 1982 South Atlantic conflict who have been awarded the South Atlantic Medal.
	The scheme is sponsored and administered by the South Atlantic Medal Association 1982 (SAMA 82) to whom all applications for, and inquiries about, travel under this concessionary scheme should be submitted. Applicants do not have to be members of the association in order to participate.

Ex-servicemen: Falkland Islands

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps his Department has taken to discuss the 30th anniversary of the Falklands conflict with veterans of the conflict.

Andrew Robathan: Falklands conflict veteran groups have been widely consulted during the development of plans to mark the 30th Anniversary of the Falklands conflict.

Ex-servicemen: Teachers

Michael Fallon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps his Department is taking to encourage former service personnel to become teachers.

Andrew Robathan: holding answer 13 October 2011
	The Schools White Paper 2010, The Importance of Teaching, outlined the coalition Government's commitment encouraging armed forces leavers to become teachers and to work in schools as mentors. We are working closely with the Department for Education, the lead Government Department, to develop and implement this initiative
	Currently, service leavers are encouraged to attend resettlement careers fairs, organised for the armed forces as part of their resettlement programme. The Training Development Agency for Schools are regular attendees who provide specialist advice on routes into teaching.

Libya: Armed Conflict

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  how many (a) Paveway II bombs, (b) Paveway IV bombs, (c) Dual Mode Brimstone missiles, (d) Hellfire missiles, (e) 30mm cannon rounds, (f) CRV7 rockets and (h) Tomahawk land attack missiles have been used in Operation Ellamy to date;
	(2)  how many 4.5 inch shells of each munitions type have been fired from Royal Navy vessels in Operation Ellamy to date.

Nick Harvey: From the start of current operations in Libya to 6 October 2011, UK forces have employed some 1,470 precision guided munitions, 110 direct fire weapons, 4,100 rounds of direct fire 30 mm cannon rounds and around 240 high explosive or illumination rounds from 4.5 inch naval guns. We carefully select the type of weapon in every engagement to ensure the most appropriate munition is used to deliver the required effect, while minimising the risk of civilian casualties.
	The precision guided munitions used include Dual Mode Seeker Brimstone, Enhanced Paveway II, Paveway. IV, Storm Shadow missiles and Tomahawk Land Attack missiles. Direct fire munitions include Hellfire missiles and CRV-7 rockets.
	I am withholding the detailed breakdown of individual weapons types expended as its disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice, the capability, effectiveness or security of the armed forces.

Military Aircraft

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much he expects to be saved in (a) Resource DEL, (b) Capital DEL, (c) annually-managed expenditure and (d) in total by (i) withdrawing Sentinel R.1 from service between 2015 and 2020, (ii) not taking Shadow R.1 into permanent RAR service between 2015 and 2020, (iii) not taking Reaper UAV into permanent RAF service between 2012 and 2020, (iv) delaying the entry into service of the F-35 until 2020, (v) changing the JCA variant from F-35B to F-35C and (vi) capping the number of Typhoon aircraft in service at 107 between 2015 and 2020.

Peter Luff: Following the strategic defence and security review (SDSR), we announced the decision to withdraw Sentinel R.1 from service once it is no longer required for operations in Afghanistan. This decision is assumed for planning purposes to save approximately £320 million in cash resource DEL and £190 million in capital DEL over the next 10 years.
	The Department has no current plans to take Shadow R1 or Reaper into permanent RAF service, and therefore no savings would result.
	A number of changes were made to the Joint Combat Aircraft programme during the SDSR and planning round 2010-11, including the change of variant from the F-35B to the F-35C and the decision to introduce it into service in time to enable the delivery of a Carrier Strike capability in around 2020. We expect savings to arise from the delayed in-service date and from the lower unit price acquisition costs and through-life support costs of the F-35C compared with the F-35B. The precise value of these savings remains subject to further work.
	The Department has no plans to cap the number of Typhoon aircraft in service at 107 between 2015 and 2020.
	None of these measures are expected to have a direct impact on the Department's annually managed expenditure.

Military Bases

Alistair Darling: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what discussions he plans to have with (a) City of Edinburgh Council and (b) West Lothian Council on the development of military accommodation at Kirkliston Airfield;
	(2)  what discussions he plans to have with the City of Edinburgh Council in relation to (a) the disposal of Dreghorn and Redford Barracks and (b) a planning brief for both sites; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Robathan: holding answer 15 September 2011
	Work on the planned re-basing of armed forces personnel from Germany to Scotland remains at an early stage. It is too early at present to say precisely how the sites will be used. Detailed planning work will now be undertaken, led by the Defence Infrastructure Organisation in conjunction with the Army and Royal Air Force. This work will involve the appropriate and necessary engagement with other Government Departments, the Devolved Administrations and local authorities. Work will involve a comprehensive assessment of issues such as impact on schools, health care, etc and the broader local economy and environment.

Military Bases

Michael Crockart: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what work will be required to be completed at RAF Lossiemouth to enable Typhoons to be based there; and what recent estimate he has made of the date by which such work will be completed.

Andrew Robathan: Initial scoping work during the strategic defence and security review identified a number of options to make RAF Lossiemouth ready to support Typhoon operations. More detailed planning is currently being undertaken and the options will be subject to an investment appraisal to ensure that the best value for money solution is identified for Defence. Completion dates are dependent on the outcome of the planning process.

Military Bases

Michael Crockart: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence with reference to his Department's Strategic Defence and Security Review, what assessment his Department has made of the (a) personnel capacity and (b) potential for expansion of Glencorse Barracks, Glencorse HIVE and associated facilities.

Andrew Robathan: Comprehensive planning work is now under way to draw up detailed plans for the future of Glencorse Barracks, which will include an assessment of the site's personnel capacity and potential for expansion.
	HIVEs, provide information services for military personnel and their dependants. The information they provide includes local unit and civilian facilities, places of interest, schools and further education, housing, health care facilities, employment and training opportunities. They are also able to provide a referral service to other agencies and engage with the local authorities and communities. The HIVEs provided by the Army are part of the. Army Welfare Service.
	It is too early to say at this time what the future of the Glencorse HIVE and its associated facilities may be. A full assessment will only be undertaken once the current basing work is completed.

Ministry of Defence Police and Guarding Agency

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent assessment he has made of the skills (a) that the training of Ministry of Defence Police confers and (b) provided by privately trained security personnel.

Andrew Robathan: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) police officers are trained to national police standards and enjoy the full range of constabulary powers within their permitted jurisdiction. The requirement for MOD police services and capabilities is therefore focused on those areas of Defence business where the availability of civil policing powers can best mitigate the crime and security risks faced by the MOD.
	Any private sector company awarded a contract to provide unarmed guarding services at a Defence establishment must have a training programme in place that ensures a mandated minimum level of training for all guards in order to deliver the level of service required. This training is augmented by local induction training and relevant site familiarisation training specific to the duties being undertaken. All commercial guards employed at Defence sites must be licensed in accordance with Security Industry Association regulations. In addition, and within nine months of the award of an MOD guarding contract, at least 30% of the guards employed must possess a relevant National or Scottish Vocational Qualification.

Ministry of Defence Police and Guarding Agency

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Ministry of Defence Police's Criminal Investigation Department in (a) preventing terrorism, (b) discovering security breaches, (c) investigating fraud and (d) gathering intelligence; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Robathan: The Ministry of Defence police (MOD) Criminal Investigation Department (CID) is subject to scrutiny by a number of statutory bodies, who also comment upon the force's effectiveness. In 2010 an inspection of the force's major crime capability, and public order (focusing on protestor activity), was conducted by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary. In 2011 the Office of Surveillance Commissioners undertook a review of aspects of the force's intelligence gathering. In addition the independent MOD police committee routinely receives a summary of fraud and significant crime inquiries investigated by the CID, and subsequent financial recoveries.

Royal Fleet Auxiliary

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  pursuant to the answer to the right hon. Member for Mid Sussex of 15 September 2011, Official Report, columns 1300-01W, on the Navy, what the Order of Battle was for the Royal Fleet Auxiliary on 7 September of each of the last three years;
	(2)  how many redundancy notices have been issued to Royal Fleet Auxiliary personnel since May 2010; and how many were (a) compulsory and (b) voluntary;
	(3)  what estimate has been made of the number of Royal Fleet Auxiliary personnel that will be (a) employed and (b) made redundant in (i) 2012-13, (ii) 2013-14 and (iii) 2014-15.

Nick Harvey: The Order of Battle for the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) for the three years prior to 2011 remained the same in each year and was as follows:
	
		
			 2008-10 
			  Number 
			 Fleet tankers 2 
			 Support tankers 2 
			 Small fleet tankers 2 
			 Fleet replenishment ships 4 
			 Landing ship dock 4 
			 Aviation training ship 1 
			 Forward repair ship 1 
		
	
	RFA personnel have been offered compensation terms as per the Ministry of Defence Voluntary Early Release Scheme (2011). This is an ongoing process, but as of 11 October 2011, 238 RFA personnel have been accepted for release by the end of March 2012. There are currently no plans for any compulsory redundancies for RFA personnel.
	The manpower projections for the RFA for the next three years are as follows:
	
		
			 Personnel 
			  Number 
			 2012-13 1,973 
			 2013-14 1,934 
			 2014-15 1,911

Territorial Army

Michael Crockart: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  with reference to his Department's Strategic Defence and Security Review, what proportion of the increase in the size of the Territorial Army will be based in Edinburgh; and what plans his Department has made to accommodate this increase;
	(2)  what the strength is of the Territorial Army; and with reference to his Department's Strategic Defence and Security Review, what assessment he has made of the strength which will be required by 2020;
	(3)  what assessment has been made of the capacity of the Territorial Army estate in and around Edinburgh to accommodate the estimated rises in Territorial Army numbers proposed in his Department's Strategic Defence and Security Review.

Nick Harvey: As of 1 September 2011, the total strength of the Territorial Army (TA) was 30,210.
	The previous Secretary of State for Defence, my right hon. Friend the Member for North Somerset (Dr Fox), announced the publication of the Future Reserves 2020 study (FR20) to the House on 18 July 2011, Official Report, columns 643-62. The FR20 Commission made recommendations that include: the need to take urgent action to stabilise the TA; consideration of new roles for Reservists; adjustments to the balance between Regular and Reserves and recommendations on enablement, force generation and governance. The Government will make a formal response to Parliament regarding the recommendations soon, and until this has been completed, I cannot comment further on the implications.

Territorial Army

Michael Crockart: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of the Territorial Army is made up of regular attendees.

Andrew Robathan: As at 1 April 2011, there were 20,333 trained officers and soldiers in the Territorial Army, of which 16,272 were regular attendees.
	For the purpose of this question, “regular attendees” have been deemed to be those personnel who have been paid for attending at least one drill night or annual camp within the last six months. This excludes officers and soldiers under initial training, those in the Officer Training Corps and Sponsored Reserves.

Territorial Army

Michael Crockart: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what plans he has to provide incentives for large employers to promote membership of the Territorial Army to their employees;
	(2)  what plans he has to assist small and medium-sized companies to enable their staff to be members of the Territorial Army.

Andrew Robathan: Many different types of incentives exist to encourage employers to support and promote their employees' membership of the Volunteer Reserve Forces. The most relevant and enduring is the articulation of accredited transferable skills, gained from Reservist Service, which contribute to staff development in businesses of all sizes.
	Since April 2005 a simple and effective scheme has been in place, which enables employers to apply for financial assistance to cover certain costs of replacing a Reservist employee if they are mobilised.
	Following the announcement by the previous Secretary of State for Defence, my right hon. Friend the Member for North Somerset (Dr Fox), on 18 July 2011, Official Report, columns 643-45, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) has continued to engage with employers and has commissioned an independent qualitative research project, in order to better understand the views of employers. Further research will confirm which type of employer support activities are most suitable, to help increase an employer's support for his employees to become members of the Reserve Forces.
	To further support employers in overcoming any difficulties they may have with employing a Reservist, understanding legislation and learning more about the transferable skills gained from Reservist Service, the MOD sponsors the SaBRE (Supporting Britain's Reservists and Employers) Campaign.

Unmanned Air Vehicles

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  whether he expects the current arrangements with Israel in respect of the Hermes 450 system to continue until the deployment of the Watchkeeper;
	(2)  for what reasons the deployment of the Watchkeeper did not take place in July 2010;
	(3)  whether the Hermes 450 leased from Israel is certified to the same airworthiness standard as a military manned aircraft.

Peter Luff: holding answer 17 October 2011
	The service provision contract with Thales UK for the delivery of the Hermes 450 unmanned air system will continue until Watchkeeper enters’ service. Hermes 450 is certified to the same airworthiness regulatory standards as military manned aircraft.
	Watchkeeper has passed a number of significant milestones including software development, integration, operator and maintainer training, and is currently concluding flight trials in the UK. Technical issues encountered during software integration, and the requirement for troops to have more time to train with this new capability before fielding on operations, led us to revise our forecast of initial deployment of Watchkeeper to the first quarter of 2012.

Bus Services: Contracts

Brandon Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information her Department holds on the number of bus quality contracts have been issued by (a) his Department and (b) local authorities since 2000.

Norman Baker: Bus Quality Contract schemes are made by local authorities. Since the Local Transport Act 2008 came into effect in 2009, the Secretary of State no longer approves schemes and has no role in their making.
	The Department understands that no Quality Contract schemes have yet been made.

Crossrail Line: Rolling Stock

Louise Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what weighting she expects to give to the credit rating of bidders in the procurement of rolling stock for Crossrail.

Theresa Villiers: The procurement of the Crossrail rolling stock is being undertaken by Crossrail Limited on behalf Of the two sponsors, Transport for London and the Department for Transport. The procurement is under way with Invitation to Tender documentation and evaluation criteria currently being developed by Crossrail Limited.
	The evaluation criteria have yet to be finalised but, as has been the case in previous large transport procurements following the prequalification process, it is unlikely that the underlying parent company credit ratings will be specifically scored.

Gatwick Airport Station

Louise Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport for what reasons she has rejected the request from Southern Railways to vary its franchise so that it is not obliged to install gates at Gatwick Airport Station; and if she will make a statement.

Norman Baker: I have concluded that the proposal is not sensible for the Department as it does not support either the general principle of Sir Roy McNulty's review in getting cost out of the industry nor the specific finding on the introduction of gating and realising the potential of GB Rail.
	The proposal is also contrary to the simplification of fares and could inhibit opportunities for Smartcard ticketing.

Afghanistan: Females

Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Government of Afghanistan on the involvement of women in the peace and reconciliation process in that country.

Alistair Burt: As the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), told the House on 19 July 2011, Official Report, column 773: “Women have a very important role, in our view, in the future of Afghanistan”.
	In all our contact with the Government of Afghanistan, we continue to make clear that any political settlement should be inclusive and address the concerns of all Afghan citizens. We welcome the work of the Government of Afghanistan to take forward a political process of reconciliation and reintegration for Afghans who meet its end-state conditions of renouncing violence, breaking ties with al-Qaeda and abiding by the Afghan constitution, including its protection for all Afghan men and women.

Foreign Investment in the UK

Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the extent to which his Department focuses on promoting trade and inward investment.

Mark Prisk: I have been asked to reply.
	The Government have set out a very clear ambition for the UK's trade and investment agenda. Trade and inward investment was one of the themes in the first phase of the Growth Review.
	Working with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) is the Government Department that helps UK based businesses succeed in the global economy and assists overseas companies to bring their high-quality investment to the UK. UKTI's strategy, ‘Britain Open for Business’, launched in May 2011, sets out plans to provide practical support to exporters and inward investors over the next five years. Its purpose is to help our economy grow by boosting exports and encouraging foreign companies to invest in the UK.
	At the same time, and complementary to UKTI's strategy, the FCO launched its Charter for Business. This sets out seven commitments that the FCO will make, as a part of its core activity, to support UK business overseas and to attract investors to the UK. Further details can be found at:
	www.fco.gov.uk
	UKTI uses its network of staff across the globe to showcase UK strengths in sectors where we have world-beating capability and this can pay big commercial dividends, particularly in the more challenging emerging markets.
	According to independent research, UK companies attributed £6 billion worth of additional profits due directly to the assistance of UKTI during 2010-11. That is an additional £22 of profit for every £1 spent on export promotion. In addition, in 2010-11 assisted more foreign direct investment projects than ever before—849 of 1,434 projects entering the UK (59%).
	The UKTI website:
	www.ukti.gov.uk
	gives further information on UKTI services and its strategy.

Fly-tipping

Andrew Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the cost to the public purse of dealing with fly-tipping (a) nationally and (b) in Yorkshire was in each of the last three years.

Richard Benyon: The costs incurred by local authorities over the last three years for which published data are available for the clearing and disposal of fly-tipped waste in (a) England; and (b) Yorkshire and Humberside are provided in the following table:
	
		
			 Estimated costs of clearance and disposal of fly  -  tipped waste 
			 £ million 
			  Yorkshire and Humberside England 
			 2007-08 6.6 63.7 
			 2008-09 5.9 55.1 
			 2009-10 4.7 45.8 
		
	
	It should be noted that fly-tipping data are reported on a local authority and not a county basis. The authorities that fall under Yorkshire and Humberside produce these figures which have been taken from the Landfill Allowance Trading Scheme Government Office Region.

Fly-tipping

Eric Ollerenshaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many incidents of fly-tipping were reported in each local authority area in the north-west in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and what the estimated cost of dealing with those incidents was.

Richard Benyon: A table summarising the data requested for the north-west region(1) as a whole is provided as follows. A table breaking down the data by local authority has been deposited in the House Library.
	
		
			 £ million 
			  Total number of fly-tipping incidents recorded by local authorities in north-west  (1)   England Estimated costs to local authorities of clearance and disposal of fly-tipped waste 
			 2005-06 1,348,288 43.1 
			 2006-07 1,380,339 20.2 
			 2007-08 145,238 7.5 
		
	
	
		
			 2008-09 113,862 7.0 
			 2009-10 99,028 5.7 
			 (1) The authorities included within the north-west England heading have been taken from the Landfill Allowance Trading Scheme Government Office region. Source: Flycapture database, September 2011.

Recycling: Education

Thomas Docherty: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  how much her Department spends on educational projects directly associated with recycling;
	(2)  what funding her Department is providing to support education on recycling and the reduction of use of plastics in schools.

Richard Benyon: DEFRA does not provide direct financial support to any educational projects associated with recycling. However, DEFRA does provide funding to various organisations that have a role providing education and information relating to recycling and sustainable waste management, such as: local authorities, Keep Britain Tidy, Eco-Schools and the Waste Resource Action programme.

Sewage

Steve Brine: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she plans to publish her Department's consultation on the registration of small domestic sewage discharges from septic tanks.

Richard Benyon: DEFRA and Environment Agency officials are currently undertaking a review regarding the requirement to register. The review includes engaging with key players such as, the CLA, NFU and water companies etc, to develop proposals on an alternative approach. Once the review has been completed we will propose the way forward, probably around the turn of the year. In the meantime, the Environment Agency has suspended the registration system in England and there is no need for householders to register.

Empty Properties: Redditch

Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what plans his Department has to re-develop empty properties in Redditch and the west midlands.

Andrew Stunell: It is for the local authority to identify empty homes in their area and to work with landlords to bring them back into use.
	To support local authorities in tackling empty homes in England we have introduced a number of measures, to ensure that the right incentives and tools are in place to enable them to work with the owners of empty properties.
	We have included empty homes in the ‘New Homes Bonus’ to provide a strong financial incentive for local authorities to tackle empty homes in their area. The bonus means that the Government will match fund the council tax, using the national average in each band, on new homes and long-term empty properties (dwellings which are empty for six months or more) brought back into use, for six years, with an additional amount being provided for affordable homes.
	Redditch, for example, received £164,263 in year one of new homes bonus as a result of increasing their housing supply, including through bringing empty homes back into use, and will receive £985,578 over the next six years following year one delivery.
	We will also shortly be consulting on the concept of a council tax premium for empty homes.
	On 23 May we launched the ‘Geographical Information System (GIS) Empty Homes Mapping Toolkit’ and the ‘Empty Homes Knowledge Toolkit’. These will help local councils and communities better identify empty homes and as well as providing advice on how to bring them back into use.
	In addition, the Department has allocated £100 million through the ‘Affordable Homes Programme’ to help get empty homes back into productive use. We will shortly be launching the bidding guidance for this funding, which will be available to registered providers of social housing, including local authorities and community, voluntary and self-help groups across England.

Housing: Finance

Andrew Bridgen: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether his Department is on schedule to release the next Housing Subsidy Determination on 11 November 2011; and on what date he plans to publish the final Housing Subsidy Determination.

Andrew Stunell: We are on track to issue the draft and final determinations to bring about the implementation of self-financing for council housing to the timetable we set out in our recent policy document entitled 'Self-financing: Planning the transition'. The timing of the issuing of the final determination is, however, subject to achieving Royal Assent for the Localism Bill as this contains the powers under which the determinations are issued.
	We will not be publishing a Housing Subsidy Determination as we are ending the existing Housing Revenue Account subsidy system and replacing it with self-financing.

Planning Permission

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  what definition he will use for purposes of the National Planning Strategy for (a) countryside, (b) green area and (c) sustainable; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  if he will substitute the term appropriate development in place of the term sustainable development in his National Planning Strategy.

Greg Clark: We have undertaken a full 12-week consultation on the draft National Planning Policy Framework. We are now carefully considering all the responses received, and will take these into account in finalising the framework.

Third Sector

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much direct funding his Department provided to each civil society organisation it funded in (a) 2010-11, (b) 2011-12, (c) 2012-13, (d) 2013-14 and (e) 2014-15; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Stunell: The Department's records do not differentiate between payments made to civil society organisations and other voluntary and community sector organisations. A list of payments made under section 70 of the Charities Act 2006 to charities and voluntary, groups is published in the Department's annual report and resource accounts on a yearly basis.
	This information will include payments made by the Department to civil societies for 2010-11. Information on the total payments made in 2011-12 has not yet been finalised and no direct funding has been finalised for future years.
	Annual reports and resources accounts for each year are published on the Department's website.
	Grant spending of individual amounts over £500 since 2008-09 is also published on the website as part of my Department's broader transparency agenda.

Developing Countries: Tax Evasion

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will bring forward proposals to reduce the dependency of developing countries on international aid; what recent assessment he has made of the effects on developing countries of (a) increasing provision of capacity building to strengthen tax systems and (b) reducing capital flight by ensuring that international (i) taxation and (ii) transparency rules protect developing countries from tax evasion; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen O'Brien: By promoting development, the UK's aid programme, should over the long term, help to reduce the dependency of developing countries on aid. Improving tax systems can be an important part of this. Effective tax systems are central to effective states and can help to reduce aid dependency.
	The UK provides capacity building to help strengthen tax systems in developing countries. As well as collecting revenue, good tax systems also encourage accountability and better governance. The Government have supported the creation of semi-independent revenue authorities in countries including Uganda, Mozambique and Rwanda, significantly improving revenue collection. In Burundi, the UK is helping to establish an independent revenue authority which is already expecting to raise £35 million more revenue this year than last year.
	The Government strongly support improvements in international tax information exchange to help all countries, including developing countries, tackle tax evasion and avoidance. The work of the Global Forum on Tax Transparency and Exchange of Information, which the UK fully supports and which developing countries are being encouraged to join, is particularly important in this respect. In addition, one of the Government's first acts on coming into office was to sign up to a new international protocol strengthening the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)/ Council of Europe Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters.
	The UK is also working bilaterally, through the OECD and through the OECD Tax and Development Task Force, to provide technical assistance for developing countries with transfer pricing, to enhance their ability to assess and collect the tax they are owed.
	The Government have made clear that it will press at the European Union (EU) for requirements to be placed on EU extractive industry companies to disclose the payments they make to Governments. Such disclosures will enable the citizens of resource rich countries to see what their governments receive from the exploitation of natural resources and promote accountability in the use of these funds.

Developing Countries: Taxation

Jim McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department is taking to assist developing countries to collect taxes they are owed by multi-national companies.

Stephen O'Brien: The Government are providing support to strengthen the tax systems of a number of developing countries including Tanzania, Pakistan and Afghanistan. In some cases, such as in Burundi and Mozambique, our support includes help in establishing or strengthening units to deal with large taxpayers, which include multi-national companies or local companies in which multi-nationals have shares.
	We also support global efforts to ensure that developing countries are able to participate in tax information exchange, to combat tax evasion and avoidance. One of this Government's first acts on coming to office was to support extending the convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters to developing countries.

Email

Jack Dromey: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether any (a) Ministers, (b) officials and (c) special advisers in his Department use private e-mail accounts for the conduct of government business.

Stephen O'Brien: The Ministerial Code, the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers, and the Civil Service Code set out how Ministers, officials and special advisers should conduct Government business.

Overseas Aid

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what consultation takes place with local communities in developing countries when implementing policies encouraged and funded by British overseas aid; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen O'Brien: The UK Government have made a commitment to:
	“give people more power and control over how aid is spent”
	as part of the wider commitment to increase transparency and value for money.
	The Government supports consultation with local communities before policies are implemented to make sure they are the right policies. It also supports feedback on their implementation to make sure results are being delivered on the ground. For example:
	The Government aims to ensure that people's priorities for poverty reduction inform our investments in health, education and other policies—e.g. through Participatory Poverty Assessments.
	Consulting directly with priority groups—for example, enabling girls themselves to carry out research in communities, focusing on what issues are important to girls and what are their ambitions.
	Exploring innovative ways to consult communities using new technologies. Through one pilot, local communities will be able to feed back information on how aid is used, using web platforms to plot stories and feedback on a live map.

Population: Sustainable Development

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what plans he has to tackle the negative effects of rapid population growth on sustainable development.

Stephen O'Brien: Rapid population growth will place a significant strain on the ability of Governments to deliver basic services such as health and education. Even with economic growth, the increase in global population is likely to build additional pressure on natural resources with some regions of the world experiencing increased water scarcity, food shortages and new challenges for sustainable energy supplies and land availability.
	The UK Government are working closely with others to advance a comprehensive understanding of the role of population dynamics (specifically the demographic dividend associated with declining fertility) in helping achieve increased economic productivity and rising per capita income in developing economies. The lack of choices for women and girls and their inability to be able to exercise control over their own fertility is a major cause of poverty and also contributes to population growth. Some 215 million women, desperately wanting to delay or avoid pregnancy, are not using an effective method of family planning.
	The UK's Framework for Results “Choices for women: Planned pregnancies, safe births and healthy newborns” sets out how the Government will double its efforts on women's and children's health. It commits us to enabling at least 10 million more women to use modern methods of family planning by 2015, contributing to a wider global goal of 100 million new users, and to prevent more than 5 million unintended pregnancies.

Academies

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the average cost of converting a school to academy status in the latest period for which figures are available;
	(2)  how many applications from schools his Department has received to convert to academy status since May 2010;
	(3)  how many academy conversions he expects to complete by the end of 2011;
	(4)  which teams within his Department are responsible for supporting schools to convert to academy status;
	(5)  how many civil servants his Department employs for the purposes of dealing with the conversion of schools to academy status;
	(6)  what his Department's budget is to support the conversion of schools to academy status for 2011-12;
	(7)  what discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on extending the budget for school academy conversions;
	(8)  whether resources have been transferred from other areas of his Department's budget for the purposes of funding academy conversions;
	(9)  whether Mr Dominic Cummings was involved in discussions concerning his Department's budget following his appointment as special adviser.

Nick Gibb: The Academies Act 2010 financial impact assessment identified that conversion costs could be around £75-80,000, based on experience of the legal and associated costs of opening sponsored academies. Actual conversion costs fluctuate between schools depending on individual circumstances. Schools may apply to the Department to receive a one-off £25,000 conversion support grant to contribute towards these costs. Additional grants are also available for PFI schools.
	From May 2010 until 1 October 2011, 1526 applications were received from schools wishing to convert to academy status. A list of all applications received (the “Publication List”) is updated monthly and available on the Department for Education website at:
	http://www.education.gov.uk/schools/leadership/typesofschools/academies/a0069811/map-of-open-academies-and-schools-submitting-applications
	As at 1 October 2011, 1031 Schools in England had converted to academy status. A further 495 schools had at this time applied to convert. It typically takes three to four months for a school to convert. As set out in the recent DFE consultation on the basis for the decision on the appropriate amount of academies funding transfer for 2011-12 and 2012-13, current estimates of the number of academy converters for the financial year 2011/12 are for between 1550 and 2113 schools to convert to become academies. It is important to point out that these are the best estimates which can be made at this time given the demand-led nature of the Academies' Conversion programme. They should not therefore be regarded as a target but as the best assessment that can be made of how the expansion in the numbers of academies may develop.
	Project Leads in Academy Converter Division {within the Infrastructure and Funding Directorate) liaise directly with schools to support them in their conversion to academy status. There are currently 98 full-time equivalent officials working exclusively in the Department's Academy Converter Division. Of these staff, the majority are Project Leads who work directly with schools that are seeking information about becoming an academy or which have applied to convert. There are other staff in the Department who make a contribution to policy development and programme delivery related to schools converting to academy status as part of their wider role. Current staff numbers cost £2,443,000, The converter grant paid so far is £18,642,779, although this is expected to increase as more converting schools are given grants to convert.
	The Chancellor of the Exchequer, my right hon. Friend the Member for Tatton (Mr Osborne) and the Secretary of State for Education, my right hon. Friend the Member for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove), have regular discussions on a range of education issues. These meetings have included discussions about different scenarios in relation to the number of schools wishing to convert to academy status. Like all organisations the Department regularly reviews its budgetary position to ensure that it has sufficient contingency to cover all potential commitments.
	Special advisers discuss all areas of the Department's business with the Secretary of State for Education including the Department's budget.

Apprentices

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many businesses in the (a) public and (b) private sector are offering apprenticeships to (i) 16 to 18 year olds and (ii) 19 to 24 year olds in 2011-12; how many such businesses there were in each category in each of the last five years; and how many such businesses in each such year had (A) between 0 and 9 employees, (B) 0 and 49 employees, (C) 0 and 249 employees and (D) 250 or more employees.

John Hayes: holding answer 10 October  2011 
	The National Employers Skills survey (NESS) shows a national estimate of the proportion of apprentices employed by employer size. These data are based on repeated surveys of up to 79,000 employers across all business sectors in England. Table 1 shows the latest information from the published 2009 National Employer Skills survey (NESS 2011 is expected to be published in 2012) on the proportion of apprentices employed by the size of establishment, expressed as a percentage of all apprenticeships.
	
		
			 Table 1: Percentage of apprentices employed by establishment size (NESS 2009) 
			  Number of employees in establishment 
			  2-4 5-24 25-99 100-199 200-499 500+ Total 
			 Percentage apprentices employed 13 34 23 8 11 10 100 
			 Note: Figure 8.4, p. 208 in http://www.ukces.org.uk/assets/bispartners/ukces/docs/publications/evidence-report-23-ness-main-report-2009.pdf accessed on 27 September 2011. 
		
	
	The percentage of apprentices employed by establishment size data (NESS 2009) is not available by age or by further breakdown of the number of employee bands. We do not directly measure the number of apprenticeship starts in the public and private sector but table 1 shows the number of apprenticeship starts in the 'Health, Public Services and Care' Sector Subject Area for 2009/10, the latest year for which final data is available. This may include some private sector health and care businesses and exclude some public sector apprenticeships covered in other sector subject areas but it is the most readily available information.
	
		
			 Table 1: Apprenticeship programme starts by sector subject area in England, 2005/06 to 2009/10 
			 Sector subject area 2005/06 2006/07 2007/08 2008/09 2009/10 
			 Agriculture, horticulture and animal care 4,050 3,930 4,500 5,210 5,690 
			 Arts, media and publishing 320 230 110 230 440 
			 Business, administration and law 37,160 36,430 50,740 64,060 76,590 
			 Construction, planning and the built Environment 21,670 27,520 27,830 29,220 25,210 
			 Education and training 110 90 330 1,160 860 
			 Engineering and manufacturing      
			 Technologies 30,870 34,660 43,100 36,990 37,860 
			 Health, public services and care 22,480 23,590 31,070 34,890 44,150 
			 Information and communication technology 7,500 6,430 8,010 8,820 12,570 
			 Languages, literature and culture (1)— (1)— (1)— (1)— (1)— 
			 Leisure, travel and tourism 5,860 5,590 6,270 11,330 14,690 
			 Preparation for life and work 10 (1)— (1)— (1)— (1)— 
			 Retail and commercial enterprise 39,990 43,020 49,290 48,030 61,620 
			 Science and mathematics (1)— (1)— (1)— (1)— (1)— 
			 Unknown 4,980 2,940 3,510 (1)— (1)— 
			 Total 175,000 184,400 224,800 239,900 279,700 
			 (1) Indicates a base value of less than five. Note: 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest ten except for the total which is rounded to the nearest hundred. Source: Individualised Learner Record 
		
	
	Information on the number of apprenticeship starts is published in a quarterly statistical first release (SFR). The latest SFR was published on 23 June 2011:
	http://www.thedataservice.org.uk/statistics/statisticalfirstrelease/sfr_current

Crimes of Violence: Children

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will respond to the UN Global Survey on Violence against children; and if he will place in the Library a copy of his response.

Tim Loughton: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 10 October 2011, Official Report, column 190W, to the hon. Member for Chesterfield (Toby Perkins).

Departmental Consultants

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what procedures his Department uses when engaging external consultants.

Tim Loughton: The Department has introduced internal procedures to review all proposals to engage consultants. These procedures now incorporate the cross-Government consultancy review arrangements established by the Efficiency and Reform Group (ERG) in Cabinet Office for high value cases.
	Consultancy engagements have to meet criteria before approval is granted:
	The requirement is of genuine operational necessity ;
	The work cannot be undertaken by existing in-house resources;
	The commercial proposals represent real value for money.
	Within the Department all consultancy proposals require at least a business case signed off at director level. For engagements in our arm’s length bodies, sign-off is at chief executive level. Separate approval processes are then required depending on the value and requirement of the engagement. All cases are reviewed within Finance and Commercial Group at deputy director and director levels. Engagements that are intended to last for over nine months require clearance from the Minister for Efficiency and Value for Money, my noble Friend, Lord Hill of Oareford, and the Cabinet Office. Consultancy contracts of over £20,000 also require approval by Lord Hill and if they involve procurement related consultancy also require Cabinet Office approval.
	Existing consultancy contracts of £20,000 and above are reviewed every three months from the date of contract commencement to ensure they still meet the criteria. Contracts are reviewed at three and six months within the Department, and at nine months they are referred to Cabinet Office for approval to continue.
	The Department is subject to EU and UK Procurement regulations and the strategy of centralising procurement of common goods and services for central Government Departments. As such the Department encourages use of existing framework agreements wherever possible, including those established by the Government Procurement Service. Where requirements are not met by an existing framework, business units are advised that, following the fundamental principles of EU legislation, and Government purchasing policy, contracts should be awarded following competitive tendering.
	Up to February 2011, Departments had saved £350 million on consultancy engagements—a reduction of 55%.

Free Schools

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Education on what date he plans to publish his decision on applications for free schools wishing to open in 2012.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 10 October 2011
	The Department has now completed the process of assessing the applications it has received to establish Free Schools in 2012. The Secretary of State for Education, my right hon. Friend the Member for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove), made an oral statement to the House on 10 October 2011, Official Report, columns 62-64, about those that are approved to move to the next stage of development.

Free Schools

Ian Mearns: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what proportion of applications to set up a free school have been rejected; and for what reasons in each case.

Nick Gibb: During the application round for Free Schools opening in 2011 approximately 90% of the 323 applications were rejected. In the application round for Free Schools opening in 2012, the outcome of which was announced on 10 October 2011, Official Report, columns 62-64, by the Secretary of State for Education, my right hon. Friend the Member for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove), approximately 75% of the 281 applications are not being taken forward. The Department does not publish details of unsuccessful applications.

Offences Against Children

Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will introduce measures to improve the operation of local safeguarding children boards to take account of the conclusions of the Out of Mind, Out of Sight Report from the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre.

Tim Loughton: Local Safeguarding Children Boards (LSCBs) have a key role in tackling child sexual exploitation. We know that there are examples of good practice in identifying this abuse and responding to it; but not enough LSCBs are tackling the problem proactively. The action plan which the Government are committed to publishing in the autumn will set out a range of actions for tackling child sexual exploitation, including ones to help LSCBs improve their performance. The action plan will take account of the conclusions of the ‘Out of Mind, Out of Sight’ report and of other related reports and research findings.

Teachers: Ex-servicemen

Michael Fallon: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many former service personnel have (a) applied for and (b) been enrolled in the Troops for Teachers programme.

Nick Gibb: We are developing a Troops to Teachers programme, which will provide a number of routes for service leavers who want to use their skills in schools, either through teaching, school leadership or providing specialist support to groups of pupils. We will announce further details of the Troops to Teachers programme later this year.
	The Troops to Teachers programme will encompass the Military to Mentors programme, which was launched last year. The Military to Mentors programme employs ex-services personnel to work with some of our most vulnerable young people, in schools. There are 10 participants on the current programme, 20 more confirmed to start the next programme and a further 20 at the application stage.

Video Games: Industry

Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what discussions his Department has had with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on the Livingstone Hope Skills review.

Nick Gibb: The report of the Livingstone Hope Skills Review on the skills shortage faced by the video games and visual industries was launched in February 2011. Officials from the Department for Education and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport discussed the recommendations emerging from the review before the launch of the report, and have since met to discuss the Government's response.

Atos Healthcare

Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent representations he has received on the way that Atos Healthcare carry out their assessments on behalf of his Department; and what plans he has for improvements in the way that Atos Healthcare undertake such assessments.

Chris Grayling: It is important the work capability assessment (WCA) is subject to an ongoing process of review, evaluation and refinement. This includes continuing to listen to the concerns of both representative groups and individuals and we welcome the recent Work and Pensions Select Committee Report which acknowledged improvements to the WCA resulting from the review process.
	As part of this continuous improvement Professor Harrington published his first Independent Review of the WCA in November 2010. He concluded that the principles of the assessment are right, but that the system contains some flaws that risk undermining its effectiveness. We fully endorse his review and have sought to implement all of its recommendations.
	Improvements include the introduction of mental, cognitive and intellectual ‘champions’ into assessment centres to improve the assessment of these functions. Atos have additionally published a customer charter which is available in their medical assessment centres, ensuring that individuals understand the level of service they may reasonably expect from the organisation.
	We will continue to review and refine the WCA to ensure that it is effective; fair for all claimants and as a result fair for the taxpayer. I am delighted therefore that Professor Harrington has agreed to take on the second Independent Review of the WCA. We look forward to receiving his further recommendations by the end of the year.

Atos Healthcare

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when his Department's contract with ATOS to carry out assessments for employment and support allowance will expire.

Chris Grayling: The Department's contract with Atos to carry out assessments for employment and support allowance will expire on 31 August 2015.

Carbon Monoxide: Poisoning

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he is taking to provide information to the public on the (a) risk and (b) prevention of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Chris Grayling: The Government takes awareness of carbon monoxide issues very seriously, and provides information for the public on websites and in publications. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) advice to consumers is to always use a Gas Safe registered engineer for all gas work in their home, and to ensure that any gas appliances are regularly serviced and maintained. Although not a substitute for the correct installation or maintenance of an appliance, HSE also strongly recommends the use of audible carbon monoxide alarms. Additionally, HSE provides a free gas safety advice line, which gas consumers, tenants and landlords can contact for advice and information.
	The Gas Safe Register, the statutory registration scheme for gas engineers, was launched in April 2009. The Register has undertaken significant campaigns, including national TV advertising, coverage on a wide variety of consumer programmes and national and regional press and radio, along with regional and community events to raise public awareness of gas safety risks. Recent research by the Gas Safe Register has shown that 81% of consumers are aware of gas safety risks and the Gas Safe Register.
	HSE and Gas Safe Register continue to work to raise awareness of the risks of carbon monoxide poisoning, particularly with vulnerable groups such as the elderly and students. Gas Safe Register ran their first Gas Safety Week in September 2011 and reached millions of consumers with key gas safety messages.

Construction: Safety

Steve Rotheram: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether he plans to implement the recommendation of his Department's report, entitled One Death is too Many: inquiry into the Underlying Causes of Construction Fatal Accidents, to apply Office of Government Commerce Common Minimum Standards throughout publicly funded construction projects, including local authorities.

Chris Grayling: The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has published research into the health and safety considerations in procurement of construction work by public sector clients. This research has been shared with the Cabinet Office who are currently updating the Common Minimum Standards for the Built Environment as set out in the Cabinet Office document “Government Construction Strategy” published in May 2011.

Departmental Procurement

Gordon Henderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the cost of employing civil servants to undertake procurement for his Department in (a) 2008-09, (b) 2009-10 and (c) 2010-11; and what estimate he has made of the cost of (i) employing civil servants and (ii) engaging consultants to undertake procurement for his Department in 2011-12.

Chris Grayling: Procurement activity in the Department for Work and Pensions is covered by a corporate commercial strategy under which costs are monitored each financial year. The cost of employing civil servants to undertake procurement for the Department and its agencies and non-departmental public bodies in 2008-09, 2009-10 and 2010-11 were:
	
		
			 Financial year Costs (£ million) 
			 2011-12 (1)44 
			 2010-11 49.12 
			 2009-10 49.65 
			 2008-09 51.63 
			 (1) Estimate 
		
	
	The Department is committed to delivering corporate efficiencies in order to deliver value for money for the taxpayer and will continue to review progress in achieving this.
	The Department has not, and does not plan to, engage any consultants to undertake procurements on its behalf in 2011-12.

Employment and Support Allowance: Cancer

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what evidence he took into account when making the decision to limit employment and support allowance payments to one year for cancer patients;
	(2)  what discussions he had with representatives of Macmillan Cancer Care prior to his decision to limit employment and support allowance payments to one year for cancer patients; and if he will publish the minutes of these meetings.

Chris Grayling: As part of his spending review announcement last October the Chancellor of the Exchequer, my right hon. Friend the Member for Tatton (Mr Osborne), set out the intention to introduce a time limit of one year for those claiming contributory employment and support allowance who are placed in the Work Related Activity Group. The change requires primary legislation and is included in the Welfare Reform Bill which is currently being considered by Parliament.
	Ministers have had a number of discussions with Macmillan Cancer Support since the spending review announcement, as we are determined that the benefits system should support people who are diagnosed with cancer in the most sensitive, fair and appropriate way. The Department has no interest in making it harder for those who cannot work to claim benefits and is committed to an ongoing process of review and improvement.
	As part of his second Independent Review, Professor Malcolm Harrington asked Macmillan to look in detail at how the work capability assessment assesses people with cancer and to provide to him with any recommendations for further improvements.
	The Department recently received these recommendations from Professor Harrington and is considering them carefully to understand whether they will improve the assessment further for individuals with cancer. The Department will come forward with any proposals shortly.

Jobseeker's Allowance: Education

Eilidh Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the situation faced by individuals who have had jobseekers support withdrawn as a result of enrolling on a college course in order to improve their employability.

Chris Grayling: The Government recognise the importance that education and skills can play in helping people find work. Jobseekers can undertake part-time education or training at any point in their claim and continue to receive jobseeker's allowance as long as they continue to meet the basic conditions of entitlement.
	Nevertheless, jobseeker's allowance is primarily intended as a safety net for people who are unemployed and searching for work. While certain social security entitlements continue to be available to students in vulnerable groups—such as disabled students and students who are responsible for a child of qualifying age—the vast majority of full-time students are not entitled to benefits as a means of supporting themselves while studying. Financial support for students who wish to study full-time is instead generally through the grants and loans available through the further education system.
	Evidence from employment programmes suggests that jobseekers are better served by support that mixes ongoing job-search with integrated work-related training. Skills provision also works best when it meets the needs of both employers and those seeking employment.

Musculoskeletal Disorders

Robert Buckland: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment his Department has made of the potential saving to the public purse of reducing the number of people diagnosed with musculoskeletal conditions in receipt of (a) employment support allowance and (b) disability living allowance.

Chris Grayling: The impact assessments and equality impact assessments which accompanied the Welfare Reform Bill set out the financial impacts on the exchequer and individuals of the policies contained in the Bill. These are published at the following link:
	http://www.dwp.gov.uk/policy/welfare%2Dreform/legislation%2Dand%2Dkey%2Ddocuments/welfare%2Dreform%2Dbill%2D2011/impact%2Dassessments%2Dand%2Dequality/
	Entitlement to employment and support allowance is determined using the work capability assessment which is based on the premise that eligibility should not be based on the diagnosis of a specific condition, but rather on the way that the condition limits an individual's functional, capability.
	Subject to parliamentary approval, we intend to replace disability living allowance for people of working age with personal independence payment, a new, more transparent and sustainable benefit with an objective assessment of individual need. Exchequer savings from this measure are estimated to be around £325 million in 2013-14, rising to £1.25 billion by 2015-16. The assessment criteria for personal independence payment are still being designed, tested and consulted on. It is, therefore, not possible to estimate the impact of the reforms on particular groups.

Social Security Benefits: EU Nationals

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the contribution by the Minister for Pensions of 12 July 2011, Official Report, column 73WH, on benefits (EU nationals), when he expects to make available information on the nationality of benefit claimants; and what steps he has taken to make available information on the nationality of benefit claimants.

Chris Grayling: I have commissioned work to release information regarding the nationality of benefits claimants at the point of registration for a national insurance number. I am in discussion with Government colleagues, and hope to make preliminary statistics on the matter available shortly.
	In the longer term, I have asked my officials to look in to ways of capturing this information at source.

Work Capability Assessment

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people have failed to attend a work capability assessment (WCA) appointment arranged by Atos Healthcare on behalf of his Department and subsequently had their benefit stopped in each (a) (i) parliamentary constituency and (ii) Jobcentre Plus area and (b) for each benefit type since the inception of the WCA.

Chris Grayling: The information that is available will be placed in the Library.
	Please note the Department holds information on the number of times a person has failed to attend a work capability assessment (WCA) appointment and the number of claims that have been closed before the assessment process is complete. However, there are a number of reasons that a claim may be closed, so we cannot be certain that a failure to attend a WCA is the direct reason for a claim being closed.
	Therefore the tables provided show the number of claims that have been closed prior to the assessment being complete and of these the number that have, and have not, had a failure to attend a WCA recorded. This gives a broad indication only of the numbers of claims where a failure to attend may have led to the case being closed.
	The information given relates to all new ESA claims started between October 2008 and November 2010 (the latest information available) where their claim was closed before their initial assessment was complete. Information on incapacity benefit claimants going through reassessment using the work capability assessment is not available.
	The information is not available at parliamentary constituency level so local authority, area has been given as an alternative.
	The data presented comes from benefit claims data held by the Department for Work and Pensions and functional assessment data from Atos Healthcare. It is consistent with the official statistics publication on ESA and the WCA. The latest report was published in July 2011 and can be found on the internet at the following link:
	http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/workingage/index.php?page=esa_wca

Competition Commission under the Enterprise Act

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether his Department retains powers to refer the newspaper distributor sector to the Competition Commission under the Enterprise Act.

Edward Davey: Responsibility and powers to refer markets to the Competition Commission falls to the Office of Fair Trading and those sector regulators with concurrent competition powers. The Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, my right hon. Friend the Member for Twickenham (Vince Cable), retains a power to refer markets under specific limited circumstances. Following the Machinery of Government changes announced in December 2010 responsibility for the media sector falls to the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport, my right hon. Friend the Member for South West Surrey (Mr Hunt).

BAE Systems: Apprentices

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps his Department is taking to assist apprentices affected by the redundancies announced by BAE Systems in finding new apprenticeships.

John Hayes: The National Apprenticeship Service has end to end responsibility for delivering apprenticeships in England. As part of this role, the National Apprenticeship Service work with employers to try and find alternative placements for those individuals at risk of redundancy.
	In this case, the National Apprenticeship Service and Skills Funding Agency are working together to provide BAE with site level support across the country to manage any transition activities for individuals as necessary. BAE are sensitive to ensuring that apprenticeship schemes are protected and will look to ensure that existing apprenticeships can be completed. Where individuals are unable to complete their apprenticeships at the same site, the apprenticeship programme has sufficient flexibility within its contracts to allow those affected to move to other BAE sites to complete their training.

Departmental Fines

Eilidh Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many transport-related fines his Department and its predecessors have settled on behalf of its staff in each year since 2007; and at what cost.

Edward Davey: The Department has not settled any transport related fines on behalf of staff in any of the years since 2007. The Department's policy is that it will not settle any transport related fines incurred by its staff.

Departmental Sick Leave

Mike Freer: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills for how many days on average his Department's staff in each pay grade were absent from work as a result of ill health in 2010-11.

Edward Davey: The following table shows the average working days lost (AWDL) in BIS by grade, during the period 1 April 2010-31 March 2011.
	The data forms part of the quarterly return to Cabinet Office on absence. Further information is available on the BIS website:
	http://www.bis.gov.uk/transparency/staff
	
		
			 Grade AWDL 
			 Administrative Assistant 4.3 
			 Administrative Officer 6.5 
			 Executive Officer 5.7 
			 Higher Executive Officer 3.5 
			 Senior Executive Officer 2.5 
			 Grade 7 2.4 
			 Grade 6 2.0 
			 SCS 0.6

English Language: Education

Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent progress has been made on arrangements for English for speakers of other languages funding for asylum seekers.

John Hayes: The eligibility for asylum seekers to access funding for skills training are described in paragraphs 32 and 33 of the Skills Funding Agency 2011/12 Learner Eligibility and Contribution Rules (Version 2.1, August 2011). This can be found at:
	http://readingroom.lsc.gov.uk/SFA/LearnerEligibilityand ContributionRules_2011_12_12Aug2011__June_revision_ V2.1.pdf
	From the 2011/12 academic year, where English language skills have been identified as a barrier to entering employment, full Government funding is provided for English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) qualifications delivered to unemployed people in receipt of jobseeker’s allowance or in the Employment and Support Allowance (Work-Related Activity) Group. Further education colleges and training organisations also have local discretion to provide fully subsidised courses for people on a wider range of benefits where the training is to help them enter employment. Learners are expected to share the costs of publicly funded ESOL courses with Government where full fee remission is not applicable. The Government will no longer fund ESOL courses delivered in the workplace. This is to ensure publicly-funded training provision is focused on people whose lack of English is preventing them from finding work.
	This Department and the Department for Communities and Local Government are working in partnership to develop new forms of support for individuals who need language skills to assist with integration and community cohesion. I will announce further details in due course.
	The potential impact on adult learners participating in ESOL courses of the changes to eligibility criteria for fee remission set out in the Government's 'Skills for Sustainable Growth' strategy (November 2010) are described in an equality impact assessment, published by this Department on 18 July 2011. This can be found at:
	http://www.bis.gov.uk/assets/biscore/further-education-skills/docs/e/11-1045-english-for-speakers-of-other-languages-equality-impact.pdf

English Language: Education

Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what representations he has received from further education colleges on English for speakers of other languages funding since 1 August 2011.

John Hayes: The Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, my right hon. Friend the Member for Twickenham (Vince Cable), meets regularly with representatives from further education colleges to discuss a wide range of issues.
	I have asked the Association of Colleges to advise me on developing, in consultation with further education colleges and providers, an effective methodology for targeting funds at settled communities in which language barriers inhibit individual opportunity and community cohesion. This is part of the partnership formed between this Department and the Department for Communities and Local Government, to develop new forms of support for individuals who need language skills to assist with integration and community cohesion. I will announce further details shortly.

Export Credit Guarantee Department: Government Procurement Card

Charlie Elphicke: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what the (a) date of purchase, (b) amount, (c) supplier and (d) level 3 or enhanced transaction entry was of each transaction undertaken by the Export Credit Guarantee Department using the Government Procurement Card in (i) 2007-08, (ii) 2008-09 and (iii) 2009-10.

Edward Davey: The Export Credits Guarantee Department does not have a Government Procurement Card.

Further Education

Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many students were enrolled in further education in Birmingham, Ladywood constituency (a) on 1 September 2011 and (b) in each of the last five years.

John Hayes: The following table shows the total number of learners participating in Government-funded further education throughout the academic year in Birmingham Ladywood constituency from 2005/06 to 2009/10, the latest year for which final data are available. Information is not available for the number of enrolments on 1 September 2011.
	
		
			 Further education participation in Birmingham, Ladywood constituency, 2005/06 to 2009/10 
			  Total 
			 2005/06 18,650 
			 2006/07 17,290 
			 2007/08 16,720 
			 2008/09(1) 18,290 
			 2009/10(1) 16,730 
			 (1) Figures for 2008/09 onwards are not directly comparable to earlier years due to the introduction of demand-led funding. More information on demand-led funding is available at: http://www.thedataservice.org.uk/datadictionary/businessdefinitions/Demand+Led+Funding.htm Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10. 2. Geography information is based upon the home postcode of the learner. 3. These data include Learner Responsive, Apprenticeships, Train to Gain, Adult Safeguarded Learning and University for Industry funding streams. 4. Participation Is based on a count of learners undertaking learning on any day within a given academic year. Source: Individualised Learner Record 
		
	
	Information on further education and skills participation and achievement is published in a quarterly statistical first release (SFR). The latest SFR was published on 23 June 2011:
	http://www.thedataservice.org.uk/statistics/statisticalfirstrelease/sfr_current

Multinational Companies: Company Accounts

William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what representations his Department has made to the (a) G20 and (b) G77 on requiring the publication by multinational companies of accounts for each country in which they operate.

Edward Davey: The Government made clear in the statement following the G20 Finance Ministers' meeting in February by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the right hon. Member for Tatton (Mr Osborne), and in the Prime Minister's speech in Lagos in July, their support for EU action to improve transparency and reporting in the extractive industries to match the standards in the Dodd Frank legislation in the US.

Overseas Trade: Nigeria

Meg Hillier: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what support his Department is providing to small and medium-sized enterprises developing trade links with Nigeria.

Mark Prisk: UK Trade and Investment (UKTI), a joint department of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, provides expert trade advice and practical support to UK-based companies wishing to access 96 overseas markets, including Nigeria.
	Specific services include market research, details of overseas business opportunities, participation in trade missions and seminars, opportunities to exhibit at key trade events and access to major buyers, governments and specific supply chains in overseas markets.